Draft Coffs Harbour Public Realm Strategy SUMMARY - March 2023 The City of Coffs Harbour has developed this Public Realm Strategy to “Create a Connected Network of Public Open Space – that is clean, green and safe”. The ultimate aim of this Strategy is that everyone in our community will have access to clean green and safe open space within a five-minute walk from their home.
Community Aspirations
The public realm is where people gather, build meaningful connections and form community. The public realm is key to our everyday lives, it is where we meet our friends and family to explore, play, learn and relax. It is not just for people, but also our native flora and fauna, as it provides links to habitats and strengthens biodiversity.
▶ ‘Connecting to Nature’ - the second most popular activity undertaken by the community within the public realm;
The public realm begins the moment you leave your front door. It includes the streets we walk or cycle in, the town squares we socialise in, and parks, playgrounds and sport fields where we relax or play.
Trends As our lifestyles have changed, so has the way we use public space. The recent COVID-19 pandemic is clear proof of how important our public spaces are and how much we need them to appreciate and connect to nature: ▶ We are increasingly time poor and we seek shorter, more intense forms of physical activity to cope with our busy lifestyles. ▶ We exercise to get fit, socialise and connect with people. ▶ The times in which we exercise are shifting, with a preference for early mornings or late evenings. ▶ Our focus is more directed to mental health and wellbeing, and the need to seek out and connect with nature.
Emerging activities majority of the workforce is sitting all day
The draft strategy reflects our community’s ambition for where it wants Coffs Harbour to be in ten years. Feedback received from our community during the development of this draft strategy validated the following aspirations: ▶ ‘Walking and Jogging’ - the most popular activity undertaken by the community within the public realm;
▶ ‘Footpaths and Bike Paths’ – the need for more connected footpaths and bike paths; ▶ ‘Trees’ - the need for more trees within our public realm; ▶ ‘Jetty Foreshores’ – the community’s love for the Jetty Foreshores; ▶ ‘Coffs Creek Cycleway’ – the community’s love for the Coffs Creek Bike Path; ▶ ‘Moonee Beach Reserve’ - the community’s love for Moonee Beach Reserve; and ▶ ‘Dog Off Leash Areas’ – the need for an additional off -leash dog park.
Our Vision Our vision for the Public Realm of Coffs Harbour is to:
Create a Connected Network of Public Open Space – that is clean, green and safe! Our aim is that everyone in our community will have access to clean green and safe open space within a five-minute walk from their home. This will be reliant on the provision of good connections and the use of different types of open space due to the size of our Local Government Area. Some of our community may have access to either a Local Park, District Park or even a Linear Park. To assist the City of Coffs Harbour in achieving this vision, a set of guiding principles have been developed for use by the City when managing, maintaining and developing our public realm. The use of the guiding principles is essential, so that our public open space network is protected and enhanced, and not negatively impacted by other City of Coffs Harbour projects or works.
inactivity is causing chronic health problems 1 |
Coffs Harbour Public Realm Strategy Draft - SUMMARY