YOUNG people and the wider community are invited to become involved in planning for a skate plaza, basketball half-court and other community facilities in Sandy Beach Reserve.

Sandy Beach Reserve forms part of the Coffs Coast Regional Park, which is managed by Coffs Harbour City Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service, under the guidance of the Coffs Coast Regional Park Trust Board, appointed by the NSW Government.

Chairman of the Regional Park Trust Board, Rod McKelvey, said that a budget of $300,000 in grant and other funds was allocated to design and build an Active Youth Space, to include a skate park and a basketball half-court facility.

“The Active Youth Space and broader Community Hub is part of the Sandy Beach Reserve Masterplan developed in partnership with the Sandy Beach community through a series of workshops and online consultations in 2017,” Mr McKelvey said.

“A community workshop and information day is planned to be held at the Reserve from 4pm to 6pm on Wednesday March 10, to gather ideas for the Active Youth Space and the community hub, and to explore options for parking at the precinct.”

An online consultation portal will operate to support the workshop engagement and to provide opportunity for community input should Covid restrictions or weather conditions impact the community workshop.

The community will be engaged at various stages of planning and construction.

Project updates and online consultations will be through Council’s Have Your Say Coffs Harbour website, at: www.haveyoursay.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au

The $300,000 Active Youth Space project is financed by the Coffs Coast Regional Park and through a NSW Government Stronger Country Communities Fund grant of $150,000.

Detailed design and construction of other elements of the Sandy Beach Reserve Masterplan progresses as funding becomes available. Projects completed to date include the construction of a shared footpath/cycleway, a viewing platform, dune restoration, planting and the installation of bollards.

Coffs Coast Regional Park covers 562 hectares.

The park includes 27 kilometres of coastline and the Solitary Islands Marine Park adjoins the entire length of the park at the mean high water mark. Other Reserves which neighbour the park are Garby Nature Reserve (at Arrawarra) and Moonee Beach Nature Reserve (between Sandy Beach and Moonee).