The Ballina Shire Community now has the opportunity to put their ideas forward on the Draft Master Plan for Hampton Park Reserve, which is now on public exhibition.
Community consultation in 2024 identified a number of community priorities including the protection of the fig trees and the need to provide new shade trees and the importance to the community of green space for informal enjoyment of the reserve. Sporting clubs expressed their desire to expand their capacity at Hampton Park. The need for improved parking and footpath connections, as well as drainage and flooding impacts were raised as concerns.
‘Following community consultation, a Draft Master Planning Report was presented to the 28 November 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting. Council resolved to prepare an amended draft master plan for public exhibition,’ said a Ballina Shire Council (BSC) press release.
‘The draft master plan report presents a preferred design to the community for feedback. This proposed design formalises on-street carparking, provides a new vehicle access point off Moon Street and, upon construction, closure of the Burnet Street driveway access.
Who gets what space?
Ballina Council has acknowledged that there are competing demands for space at Hampton Park.
‘This draft master plan balances general open space amenity and functionality with active recreation, while building on existing infrastructure capacity for tennis,’ they state.
However, Max Liandra from East Ballina has raised concerns that ‘the area under lease to Cherry Street Sports Club, which covers as much as half of Hampton Park, and was recently expanded, is not considered in the Draft Master Plan.’
‘Ballina Council’s earlier decisions mean that the sports club’s leases over public land are now managed or will shortly be managed by Crown Lands, as business operations are not permitted on public recreation land. Local input is now stymied and the decisions about the management and use of the Cherry Street Sports Club lease areas rest with a state department.’
‘The draft plan opens the door for yet further loss of local decision making and control. The plan proposes that an access road, for the sole benefit of Cherry Street Sports Club, runs from Moon Street to the sports club loading dock.’
Have your say
Ballina Shire Council are asking locals to take a look at the draft plan and let them know if you agree with the vision and if they have we got the priorities right.
You can read the Draft Master Plan in full at yoursayballina.com.au/Hampton-park-reserve-master-plan and complete an online feedback form to let them know your ideas. Submissions close Friday 28 February 2025.
‘There is currently no funding allocated for implementation of works. However, once finalised the Hampton Park Reserve Master Plan will inform the management framework for the reserve, support future investment, planning and implementation of improvement works,’ stated the BSC press release.
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