National Park Plan of Management

Under the Local Government Act (1993) a Plan of Management is required for community land. Due to the size and use of National Park, this site has its own Plan of Management.  

The original Plan of Management was adopted in 2012, however the Plan requires updating to reflect recent works at the site, as well as accommodate planned or proposed works and refine future directions for the park’s management, development and use. 

All areas of the site including the recently developed greenspace and basketball courts located near the north-western corner of National Park, along with the athletics track, netball courts, six sports fields including No. 1 and No. 2 Sportsgrounds, netball courts and playground are included in the scope of the plan.  

As part of the review of the Plan of Management, Gondwana Consulting will also prepare a Landscape Masterplan for the northwest corner of the park (Smith and Parry Streets) which will provide future direction for the open space area between Parry and Smith Streets, previously occupied by tennis courts and Life without Barriers. 

The basketball courts located near the corner of National Park and Parry Streets were funded through City of Newcastle’s City Wide Services Works Program allocation for recreation parks, sporting facilities and open services as identified within Our Budget 2020-21.

City of Newcastle has engaged Gondwana Consulting (who also developed the 2012 Plan of Management) to develop a revised Plan of Management for National Park.  

Gondwana Consulting will be reviewing any recommendations in the Strategic Sports Plan (SSP) in relation to National Park. The SSP is due to be reported to Council on 8 December 2020. 

Throughout the development of the Plan of Management, City of Newcastle will be seeking community feedback to ensure it meets the needs of the community.  
 
Phase 1 Engagement will take place between 17 November and 7 December 2020, when City of Newcastle will invite community input into the process via survey, mapping tool and community drop-in sessions (subject to COVID-19 restrictions). Two key stakeholder workshops (invitation only) will be held during this time to allow for targeted feedback.  Following Phase 1, the draft Plan of Management will be developed for National Park. 
 
Phase 2 Engagement will see the draft Plan of Management placed on public exhibition in early 2021 for a period of 28 days, during which the community will be invited to provide input.