ordinary meeting of council to be held on tuesday, 26 april 2005 at ...

Ordinary Meeting <strong>of</strong> Council - 26 April 2005 12 / 4
Item 12
S04028
8 February 2005
Acquisition strategies need also <strong>to</strong> consider the local, district and regional provision <strong>of</strong> open space
against financial reality <strong>of</strong> land values in the short term, construction <strong>of</strong> facilities in the medium
term and ongoing maintenance cost in the longer term. This will have implications for proposed
and future Section 94 Plans. An Open Space Land Acquisition Study has <strong>be</strong>en identified in
Council’s Draft Management Plan 2005-09 as a task <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> completed.
Other outcomes <strong>of</strong> the strategy have included:
• Establishment <strong>of</strong> a rational basis for classifying current and future open space assets <strong>to</strong> guide
appointment and service levels in the context <strong>of</strong> resource allocation
• Providing clarity <strong>to</strong> assist in the revision and implementation <strong>of</strong> Plans <strong>of</strong> Management, policies
and strategies <strong>to</strong> ensure consistency and connectivity
• Direction for the development <strong>of</strong> future Management Plan targets and key performance
indica<strong>to</strong>rs and budgets from an operational, capital works, research, policy and management
perspective.
CONSULTATION
The development <strong>of</strong> this draft strategy involved drawing from past consultations with key users and
other stakeholders and existing Council policies, strategies and plans. However, there is a need <strong>to</strong>
ensure that the directions proposed reflect both contemporary and predicted changes in the ways our
community use our open space facilities and services. With this in mind detailed discussions <strong>of</strong> the
draft strategy with the Parks, Sports and Recreation Reference Group and the Bushland, Catchments
and Natural Areas Reference Group have <strong>be</strong>en undertaken. Broader community input in<strong>to</strong> the
development <strong>of</strong> the document and its subsequent implementation is now required.
While the Strategy has drawn on past studies <strong>of</strong> demand, needs, expectations and demographic
analysis, it has not directly sought public comment on its direction nor has it validated its
assumptions in terms <strong>of</strong> future program. For example, evidence <strong>to</strong> date suggests a need for a
greater provision <strong>of</strong> recreation opportunities for teenagers, young adult females and the highest
growth demographic in the LGA (the 55 + years). As a consequence, it is recommended that a
consultation program involving general comments and review <strong>be</strong> undertaken <strong>to</strong> provide for greater
confidence in the strategy <strong>be</strong>fore its final adoption by Council. Input will <strong>be</strong> sought through
Council’s web page, advertising in the North Shore Times, an article in the Mayor’s column and
use <strong>of</strong> Council’s resident feedback panel. Following this process a report will <strong>be</strong> brought back <strong>to</strong>
Council for final adoption.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
The draft strategy identifies a range <strong>of</strong> program and projects that should <strong>be</strong> implemented over the
short, medium and long term. Where these require funding these will need <strong>to</strong> <strong>be</strong> considered in the
development <strong>of</strong> future management plans and budgets. Whilst implementation <strong>of</strong> all the
recommendations is clearly <strong>be</strong>yond Council’s ability <strong>to</strong> resource in the short term, the strategy will
assist in the prioritisation <strong>of</strong> tasks over an extended period.
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