Inclusivity and resilience at heart of Wade Park Master Plan
Published on 14 March 2024
Lismore City Council this week adopted a Master Plan that will guide the future upgrade of the popular Wade Park in East Lismore which was damaged by the February 2022 natural disaster.
Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg said the Wade Park Master Plan establishes a framework of phased upgrades to the 5.5-hectare site that has community inclusion and climate-resilience at its heart.
“Wade Park is one of the most popular parks in our Local Government Area and is well used by families. Unfortunately, it sustained major damage in the 2022 natural disaster,” he said.
“The Master Plan was developed following extensive consultation with park users and the wider community, and we have now incorporated additional features, like teen adventure play, the Seniors’ exercise equipment and outdoor gym which were suggested during Public Exhibition.”
Central to the Master Plan is the creation of an inclusive fenced-play space, designed with a bus/transport theme to engage individuals of all ages and abilities. New and improved toilet facilities will also be provided in a more central location.
This inclusive approach extends throughout the park, with enhancements such as accessible BBQs, shelters, seating areas, and upgraded pathways to create a seamless cycling and walking experience. The Master Plan also features new multi-purpose sports courts complete with seating and drinking fountains, a designated fenced dog park, for small and large dogs, with dog agility equipment, formalised car parking at the north side of the park to increase car parking capacity and improved drainage and flood resilient designs.
Deputy Mayor Jeri Hall said the plan’s staged approached allowed it to be implement as grants became available.
“As a mother whose young children learned to ride at Wade Park, I understand the importance of parks with modern family friendly facilities,” she said.
“I can’t wait until we secure all of the funding needed to make all of the Master Plan a reality.”
The Wade Park Master Plan is the result of a legacy project instigated by Parks and Leisure Australia NSW/ACT (PLA ACT/NSW) following its annual conference held in Lismore in 2022. It is a pro-bono (cost-free) initiative with many member organisations and consultants donating their time and expertise to develop the plan.
Mayor Krieg said: “Lismore City Council is very grateful for the care, time, and dedication each project team member, and advisory group participants has contributed to the Wade Park Master Plan.”
“Special thanks go to PLA NSW/ACT, CONTEXT Landscape Architecture, Cred Consulting, Peak Water Consulting, Armsign and Lark Industries for their work to date on this important community project.”
Parks and Leisure Australia NSW/ACT Vice President Simon James added: “As the peak body for Parks and Leisure in NSW it has been fantastic to see a number of industry professionals collaborate together to realise this project. Following our industry conference in the region in 2022 we wanted to ensure we left a legacy for the community, and the completion of this masterplan provides Lismore City Council with a well thought out vision to upgrade the park. Our members understand the importance of high-quality parks and open spaces to the health, well-being and recovery of the Lismore community.”
“We’d like to see more funding allocated to projects like this, for the delivery of parksand sport and leisure infrastructure that better withstand the impacts of a changingclimate.”
With a brief to create an ‘All Inclusive Park’ that’s in line with the NSW Department of Planning ‘Everyone Can Play’ guidelines, CONTEXT Director, Hamish Dounan said the Master Plan envisions a space for all members of the community to come together, regardless of background, age or ability.
“Following extensive site surveys, detailed reviews of local planning policy, design guidelines and community consultation, our proposed framework has been tailored to the area’s unique topography and local community needs. A staged approach, each intervention will serve to bolster the park’s resilience to future weather events, and serve all users for years to come,” he said.
To mitigate the impacts of future floods, understanding the site’s natural and historic context has been critical.
Mr Dounan added: “Wade Park sits within what was once Australia’s largest expanse of lowland subtropical rainforest. Covering an area of approximately 75,000 hectares. It comprises fertile alluvial soils, which have subsequently been used for a variety of agricultural purposes. Past land-uses continue to influence the landscape, and how it responds to weather and climatic events. With a number of creeks feeding into Wilsons River and Leycester Creek which join at Lismore, future floods are inevitable. With this knowledge, we have curated a set of interventions that should endure for years to come.”