Conjola Improvements

Council wishes to advise the residents of Conjola Park of the following update for infrastructure works currently underway at Hoylake Grove Reserve, Conjola Park.

The shade sail was completed in November by a local contractor. Families can now enjoy the play equipment in the midday hours in full shade over the upcoming summer holidays.

The BBQ shelter and picnic facilities are currently under construction and are planned to be completed and available for use prior to Christmas.

Unfortunately due to the persistent wet weather experienced in November and early December, construction of the pathway network will now be completed in January 2022.

Council is pleased to advise Conjola Park residents of some exciting park upgrades coming soon to Hoylake Grove Reserve (located on Hoylake Grove, Conjola Park).

The upgrades seek to improve access to existing infrastructure and enhance the useability of the open space. The upgrades include:

• A new pathway network from Hoylake Grove to and around the playground
• A 6x4m shelter with wheelchair accessible BBQ picnic facilities
• A new shade sail to improve sun safety of the existing play equipment

The shade sail will be installed first, followed by construction of the pathway linking the playground, seating, BBQ and adjacent reserve.

These works for Hoylake Grove have been enabled via grant funding from the Federal Government and Council’s capital budget.

Works are expected to be completed by December 2021.

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Drawing for shelter:

Shade projections:
Please note the colours shown in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only. The shade sail will be coloured ‘Brunswick Green’ with ‘Riversand’ coloured posts and be positioned over the playground.

Shade projections at various times of day during mid-summer:

Plan for pathway network:

At the Strategy and Assets Committee Meeting on Tuesday 9 February 2021, Council resolved not to adopt the Draft Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and Yooralla Bay Concept Plan, however, supported providing some infrastructure improvements in the Conjola Park and Lake Conjola area, aiming to improve the amenity of the area for the community.

It was resolved that Council:

1. Acknowledge and commend the efforts of the Conjola Community Recovery Association and the hard work and commitment in developing the Draft Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and Draft Yooralla Bay Concept Plan. In doing so, Council writes to the Conjola Park residents thanking them for their input into the community consultation, and confirming the extent of the Council’s commitment to the infrastructure improvements adopted in the recommendation.

2. Do not adopt the Draft Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and Draft Yooralla Bay Concept Plan prepared by TAKT Studio for Architecture and instead endorse the following infrastructure improvements:

a. Hoylake Grove Park, Conjola Park:

i. Memorial Garden and seating elements

ii. Footpaths from Hoylake Grove to and around Playground, Shade/Shelter near playground, Accessible BBQ and picnic facilities in accordance with grant funding

b. Lake Conjola:

i. Lake Conjola Entrance Road Bikeway through to the boat ramp elements identified in the Draft Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan, without the deviation at Aney Street.

3. Continue to advocate and seek funding for any of the identified infrastructure improvements that cannot be met by the existing grant monies with Council contribution of $200,000 and any additional embellishments and infrastructure as identified by the community.

4. Continue to liaise with the Conjola Community Recovery Association regarding any donated funds which have been raised that could be used towards the delivery of these elements.

Council staff have written to the community to inform them of the outcome of the Council meeting. We received many submissions and really appreciate the level of engagement during the process.

The first step for Council staff is to now progress with delivering the improvements at Hoylake Grove Park including footpaths, shade / shelter, and accessible BBQ and picnic facility.

Integral to this, is working with the Conjola Park residents to ensure we are able to deliver what the community wants. To this end, we will continue to consult further and provide updates in relation to the delivery of these works via the Get Involved project page.

In addition to the two surveys, we have created a Quick Poll to give our community the opportunity to have your say about what you would like to see improved in the parks and open spaces of Conjola Park and Lake Conjola.

Thank you for your input, this Quick Poll has now closed.

As part of the reopening of the community consultation period on the draft Conjola Connected Communities Master Plan and Yooralla Bay Concept Plan, Council staff will be out in Conjola Park and Lake Conjola to meet with the community members who are interested in finding out more about the draft Plans.

The on-site consultation sessions will be held across three separate days at the following sites:

• Wednesday 11 November, 12pm to 2pm at Hoylake Park
• Wednesday 18 November, 12pm to 2pm at Lake Conjola Community Hall
• Thursday 19 November, 3pm to 6pm at the Bushfire Hub, Lake Conjola Community Hall

You can download a copy of the Community Consultation Flyer via this link.

Consultation on the Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and Yooralla Bay Concept Plan will reopen after the community raised some concerns that Council have not reached everyone during the consultation period that ran from 3 August and 30 September 2020 (inclusive).

The community consultation period will reopen from Friday 30 October to Friday 27 November (inclusive). The reopening will involve the same surveys as the initial consultation period, as well as an opportunity to provide written submissions.

The surveys will be available via the following links:

• Survey on Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan
• Survey on Yooralla Bay Concept Plan

If you require a hard copy of the survey, please contact Jessica Volkanovski on (02) 4429 3152. Should you wish to provide a written submission, these will also be accepted. Written submissions are to be sent to council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au or P.O. Box 42 Nowra NSW 2541 by the consultation close date.

Keep an eye out for flyers in your mail box.

Shoalhaven City Council would like to take this opportunity to confirm that Council has not endorsed or adopted the Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and Yooralla Bay Concept Plan.

Further, Council would like to clarify that TAKT Studio for Architecture are not Council’s architects and were not engaged by Council. The engagement of TAKT Studio for Architecture who Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and Yooralla Bay Concept Plan was wholly the responsibility of the Conjola Community Recovery Association who also funded these services.

Council’s aim throughout the Community Engagement and Consultation period, which has been run and managed by Council staff, has been to work with the residents of Conjola Park so that we understand what you do or do not want to see in the park and foreshore areas of Yooralla Bay and Hoylake Park, and the Lake Conjola area. This is why the feedback through the consultation period is important to us as it will help inform and guide any future works in your community.

During the consultation period from 3 August and 28 September 2020 (inclusive), Council saw significant engagement from interested community members with:

• 1900 Get Involved page visits.
• Over 140 surveys were received for the Draft Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and the Draft Yooralla Bay Concept Plan.
• Over 40 written submissions were received during the consultation period and after.
• Webinar was attended by 39 participants, with over 50 questions received.

Council will continue to work with the community in bushfire recovery efforts and improving the infrastructure provision in the Conjola Park and Lake Conjola areas, with a recent announcement made by the Federal Government awarding $165,000 towards pathways, BBQ and picnic facilities at Hoylakle Grove Reserve under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

More information on the community consultation will be available soon.

This webinar recording includes Questions and Answers from presenters at the midpoint of the one hour webinar. The panel includes Shoalhaven City Council's Interim Director City Performance, Jane Lewis; Unit Manager Sport & Recreation, Susan Edwards and Senior Strategic Planner Jessica Volkanovski as well as Brent Dunn and Katharina Hendell from TAKT Studio for Architecture.

Shoalhaven City Council is hosting a webinar for community members to contribute to the Draft Conjola Connected Communities Masterplan and Yooralla Bay Concept Plan.

Both the Masterplan and Concept Plan are available for in the Documents Section.

To join the Conjola Park Masterplan Webinar from a mobile device or tablet, please follow these instructions:

1. Download/Install the Microsoft Teams App from the App Store
2. Select sign up for free
3. Enter your email address and select next
4. Select ‘For friends and Family (under how do you want to use teams) and click next
5. Select Go to Skype and download/install Skype
6. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE WEBINAR
7. When prompted join as a guest
8. Type in your name and sign in as a guest

You are now ready to watch the webinar!

To join the Conjola Park Masterplan Webinar from a computer, please follow these instructions:

1. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE WEBINAR
2. When prompted click on ‘Watch on the web instead’
3. Select Join anonymously

You are now ready to watch the webinar!

Please send your questions to communityengagement@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au prior to the session.

When

Location

Online via Microsoft Teams

Following the devastating bushfires that hit Conjola Park over Summer, the community has gathered together to identify a series of improvements at Hoylake Park and Yooralla Bay for the community to enjoy.

TAKT Studio for Architecture were engaged by the Conjola Community Recovery Association to develop plans. A concept plan has been developed to implement the improvements at Hoylake Park and Yooralla Bay. The concept plan for Hoylake Park and Yooralla Bay is part of a larger plan from Fisherman’s Paradise down to Narrawallee – Conjola Connected Community Masterplan.

Both the masterplan and concept plan are available for viewing as part of this consultation.

Project Details

The Conjola Community Recovery Association engaged TAKT Studio for Architecture. Following a series of on-site discussions with various community members and Conjola Community Recovery Association, TAKT Studio for Architecture have developed a concept plan proposing upgrades to Hoylake Park and Yooralla Bay which includes shared paths, playground, adventure play, pump track, community building, jetty, pontoon, basketball half court and more.

To view the Concept Plan Report for Hoylake Park and Yooralla Bay click here.

The Conjola Connected Community Masterplan has also been developed which proposes shared pathway and trails connecting Fisherman’s Paradise through Conjola Park and Lake Conjola down to Narrawallee. Both documents should be read in conjunction with one another.

To view the Masterplan for Conjola Connected Communities click here.

Council have now stepped in to assist with the broader community consultation and exhibition of the proposed concept plan, including undertaking reporting to Council to endorse the masterplan and concept plan, undertake required investigations and facilitate the delivery of the works.

No environmental studies have been completed for the ‘concept’ stage of the proposal as we are seeking community feedback on the concept. The concept plan would be amended to avoid environmentally sensitive areas following community consultation and finalisation of the concept plan.

Community Consultation

The volunteer Conjola Recovery Team have been working with the community and architects Takt to prepare a masterplan for the broader Conjola Park and Lake Conjola area, and a specific concept plan for the Yooralla Bay (Conjola Park foreshore area).

Council are now assisting with the broader community consultation, and have prepared a survey on these draft plans to seek community feedback.

Council are interested to hear your feedback on the draft masterplan and concept plan.

Whether your feedback relates to components of the draft plans or the whole plan, all feedback is welcome and will assist Council to determine how to move forward with improvements in Conjola Park and surrounds.

To view the Concept Plan Report for Hoylake Park and Yooralla Bay click here.

To view the Revised Master Plan for Conjola Connected Communities here.

The surveys are open open until Monday 28 September 2020 and can be completed by using the 'Survey' tab on this page or by clicking here.

Community members may also wish to write into Council via council@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au with your feedback.

If you wish to discuss the plans with Council staff, please contact Jessica Volkanovski, Community and Recreation Unit on (02) 4429 3152.