COMMUNITY FEEDBACK HELPING SHAPE SHELLHARBOUR

Shellharbour City Council’s community engagement and feedback process is empowering the public to help make key contributions with the planning of exciting new projects in the area.

The impact of community feedback was evident in the outcomes of two decisions approved at December’s Council Meeting.

“By consulting with the community and gaining an understanding of what is desired in terms of the design and function of our projects has been great for outcomes on Beverley Whitfield Pool and The Waterfront Centre,” Mayor Chris Homer said.

Caption: Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer (far right), at Beverley Whitfield Pool with Steve Doyle, Odin Childs, and Rebecca Schmidt-Lachlan (left to right). Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council.

Members of the public officially addressed Councillors prior to the meeting in a forum to speak about accessible ramp options for Beverley Whitfield Pool.

Odin Childs, who suffered a spinal injury in 2018 and hasn’t been able to swim at the ocean pool since, told Council an accessible ramp is important for making people safer.

“When my pain is bad, I would love to swim there, but I cannot get down the steps and if I’m in there, I don’t know if I can get out,” he said.

“If the pool had a ramp, I would feel safer. I would feel as though I could partake in the community like regular people and take my family and my children into the pool. It would give a lot of people with disabilities hope and the ability to exercise and ability to get outdoors and just a chance to go outside.”

Council voted in favour of an external accessible ramp that would not obstruct the existing swimming lanes.

Caption: Mayor Chris Homer and school kid at the proposed site of the Waterfront Centre in Shell Cove. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council

Meanwhile, the decision to pause planning for the original location proposed for The Waterfront Centre at Shell Cove was driven by community feedback.

The community was engaged in October regarding their preference for the location of the Centre with 80 per cent preferring for it to be located on either Location B, known as D4 next to the Woolworths car park, or a different location entirely.

The results revealed significant support to retain and not develop the green space at the Shell Cove location where The Waterfront Centre had initially been planned.

“The community is speaking loud and clear on issues that are important to them,” Mayor Homer said.

“It’s vital as a Council that we continue to listen and respond to feedback in the interest of serving our community the best we can.”

For more information please contact: Melissa Ritchie – Shellharbour City Council 0467 250 884 mediaenquiries@shellharbour.nsw.gov.au