Draft Public Realm Strategy Opens for Community Feedback

Published on 27 March 2023

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A draft Public Realm Strategy that has been developed by the City of Coffs Harbour with the goal of creating a network of connected open space for everyone to enjoy is now out on public exhibition until 5 May 2023.

“The way in which public open spaces are used by people is definitely changing,” said Chris Chapman, City of Coffs Harbour’s Director Sustainable Communities.

“People are increasingly time-poor and looking for quicker, more intense forms of outdoor physical activity to help with busy lifestyles. Covid has also shown how important access to open space is for our mental health and wellbeing. Helping people exercise to get fit, socialise, connect with people and connect with nature is the overall aim of draft Strategy.”

The draft Strategy has followed the approaches outlined in the NSW Government’s Greener Places Framework and identifies our local open space as including parks, natural areas, streets, sports facilities and community gardens.

“The Greener Places Framework advocates that residents should arrive, pass or have access to a type of public open space within a 4 to 5-minute walk from their home. An analysis of the City’s public open spaces shows that there is a sufficient supply of public open space for our community to meet this goal, provided that connections and links between our open spaces are protected and improved over time,” added Mr Chapman.

“This recognises what our residents have told us - that they value high quality public open spaces and that our footpaths and bike paths need better connections to improve access to nature and help improve our overall health and well-being.”

The draft Strategy also supports the development and implementation of an active transport plan for the local government area so that people can get outside by choosing to walk, cycle, skate or scoot to their destination - as proposed by the City’s draft Movement and Place Strategy.

The benefits of planting more trees in public open spaces are also highlighted as they reduce rising urban temperatures, filter air pollutants, capture and use rain water which reduces flooding, provide shade and shelter, strengthen habitat connections in urban areas, increase biodiversity and increase interactions with nature.

The draft Coffs Harbour Public Realm Strategy can be viewed online at the City’s Have Your Say website and submissions are open until 5 May 2023.

Those submissions will form the basis of a further report on the draft Strategy which will be presented to Council for review in due course.