A PUBLIC Realm Strategy for the region is being developed by Coffs Harbour City Council, and Council is shouting the community a free coffee for their comments on our public open spaces.

The public realm is all public land that the community can use, including local parks, sports fields, creeks, walking tracks, streets and more.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

“We’re currently developing a Public Realm Strategy for the whole Coffs Harbour local government area,” Council’s Section Leader Local Planning Sharon Smith said.

“What we mean by public realm is all public land that the community uses all the time.

“We’re talking about parks, sports fields, creeks, reserves, walking tracks and paths, streets and any public space that people either use for recreation, exercise or to get from A to B.”

Ms Smith said the aim of the Strategy is to create a connected network of open spaces and streets throughout the whole council area to provide better access and connections to our environments and to strengthen our ties to nature.

To help Council get a clear understanding of how the community moves around and uses our public places Council is asking people to complete a quick survey and/or add a pin to highlight their favourite places on an interactive map.

The Public Realm Strategy surveys and interactive map can be accessed at Council’s Have Your Say page on its website at https://haveyoursay.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/public-realm-strategy, or community members can come along to one of the cafes/coffee carts participating in Council’s Travelling Conversations on the dates and times listed to claim a free coffee in exchange for doing the survey there and then.

Free coffees will be available on:

• Friday 2 July 2021 – Coastal Blend Coffee at Moonee Beach Reserve from 7am to 12pm midday.
• Monday 19 July 2021 – Centro Toormina (out the front near Magic Noodle) from 10am to 1pm
• Friday 23 July 2021 – Idle In Café at Nana Glen from 9am to 12pm midday.
• Sunday 29 August 2021 – Harbourside Markets at the Jetty Foreshores from 9am to 2pm.

All current COVID rules will apply at all of the venues.

As well as a free coffee, people will also be able to chat to Council’s Planning and Urban Design Team to share their experiences on how they move around and use the region’s public places.

“We’re not starting entirely from scratch with the Strategy, we’ll also be incorporating best practice open space planning and the information we’ve already captured from residents during previous consultations on what people value about their environments,” added Ms Smith.

By Emma Darbin