Public Realm Strategy

The public realm is not just reserves and sporting fields - it includes all public spaces such as streets, parks, public squares, bicycle and pedestrian links and waterways. The Public Realm Strategy provides guidance for the City of Coffs Harbour, developers and the community on the planning, design and management of the public realm. 

The vision of the Public Realm Strategy is to create a connected network of public open space that is clean, green, and safe. Its goal is that everyone in our community will have access to a least one type of public open space within a 4 to 5 minute walk from their home.

To achieve this the Strategy provides:

• Guiding principles to inform projects and works that impact the public realm.
• Standards for the different types of public realm within the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area, including; Local Parks, District Parks, Regional Parks, Coffs Coast Regional Park, Linear Parks, Natural Areas, Streets, Sports Facilities and Community Gardens.
• Performance criteria to assist the City in determining levels of service and provision for each public realm type.
• Public open space requirements for future urban release areas.
• Methodology to guide the City in its classification of public land and development of plans of management

The Strategy also contains 5 Big Moves that will be undertaken by the City of Coffs Harbour: 

1. Establish a Green Grid Framework - to ensure that our public open space is protected and improved in perpetuity.
2. Establish a Public Realm Tree Delivery Program - to protect trees within our urban environments and reverse the decline in the urban tree canopy.
3. Support the Preparation of an Active Transport Plan - to ensure that our public realm is connected & to facilitate active lifestyles.
4. Support the City's Placemaking Framework - by informing the development of place plans for our community.
5. Promote Responsible Pet Ownership in the Public Realm - by updating the City's Companion Animal Management Plan.

The Coffs Harbour Public Realm Strategy was adopted by Council on 10 August 2023. The Strategy can be accessed using the link below.

Public Realm Urban Design Guidelines

The Public Realm Strategy is supported by a set of guidelines that are intended to ensure a consistent and legible approach to the design of public spaces, including streets and parks - the Public Realm Urban Design Guidelines. The Urban Design Guidelines provide guidance to the City, developers or others who are designing and specifying works and infrastructure in the public realm.

The Public Realm Urban Design Guidelines can be accessed using the link below.