Video: Take a walk through Figtree Park.
The NSW Government has allocated $4.75 million in funding to Hunter’s Hill Council, as part of the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program, subject to Council meeting its 30 June 2021 planning acceleration targets.
The funding will be used for the embellishment of Figtree Park, which may include reinstalling play equipment, improving seating areas, a new public restroom and the installation of public art.
The principles for the design scope are being finalised, and a consultation process is inviting the community to contribute.
We are now in the second phase of community consultation, seeking feedback on two concept designs (pictured below).
This phase will run from Thursday 21 October to Thursday 25 November.
Complete the survey on the concept designs
You can also drop in to one of our pop-up sessions in the park:
Or join us online for a consultation session (click the link to register):
Council has also engaged Captivate Consulting to coordinate a Citizen’s Panel, which will include an independent process of selecting the panel members and facilitating the sessions.
The process of a Citizen’s Panel is to bring together a representative group of community members with different perspectives and values on a public problem, provide them with the relevant evidence and information, and then ask the Panel to come to a decision and provide recommendations to Council.
This process will occur throughout October and November, 2021.
Express your interest in participating in the Citizen’s Panel.
The first phase of community consultation was run through July and August. Read the consultation report in the drop down section below.
This page will be updated as the Public Spaces Legacy project progresses.
Option 1
Option 2
In preparing the application for funding, a scope was developed for this high-quality project. The scope will be further refined through the consultation process. The scope includes:
The program, which is detailed below:
Council ran a community consultation campaign to capture local resident and visitor comments on Figtree Park. The consultation period ran from 10 July to 21 August.
Read more:
Figtree Park Consultation Report
Appendix 1 – Community Engagement Responses and Recent Media
21 June 2021: Read about the information update to a Hunter’s Hill Council meeting.
3 June 2021: Read the announcement from Member for Lane Cove, Anthony Roberts.
A Draft Property Strategy was deferred for revision following a meeting of Council held on 26 April 2021. The resolution also determined that Council commence the next phase of investigation of options and community consultation on an Arts and Cultural Hub (the former depot site) and the Village Green (Gladesville Road and Figtree Park site).
As part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery program, all NSW Councils were invited to submit a proposal to the Public Spaces Legacy Program.
Hunter’s Hill Council submitted a proposal to upgrade Figtree Park. We have met the initial milestones for the project, and plan to deliver a high quality open space that is accessible to all of our community.
The funds for this project are from a non competitive NSW Government grant, and will not draw on rate funding.
Details of the Public Spaces Legacy Program can be found on the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment website program page.
The Figtree Park project includes over 7000m2 of green, public open space. The green space in the image below (excluding the croquet lawn). It’s almost 2 acres of open space, in the middle of Hunter’s Hill Council LGA, and surrounded by local businesses and services that are central to our community.
Image: Figtree Park, bordered by Ryde Road, Matthew Street and Gladesville Road.
For comparison Figtree Park is half the size of Trafalgar Square or 14 basketball courts.
The Public Spaces Legacy Program project is funding the upgrade of the open space only, however a summary of the usage of the buildings along Gladesville Road is below:
50 Gladesville Rd is a heritage listed sandstone building, privately owned.
The second phase of participation is open from 21 October to 25 November 2021.
During this period we are seeking feedback via the online survey above and through the Citizen Panel.
Comments and feedback contributed via the online survey will help progress the design of the project.
The need for community amenity has featured strongly as a theme in consultation to date. The proposed concept designs incorporate open playspace and public amenities.
There are many areas to rest and recreate, with relaxation nooks and seating. Option 2 creates significantly more publicly accessible space.
Both options include a connection corridor to the businesses located in Hunters Hill Village along Gladesville Road. Residents are invited to enjoy a village green and recreation circuit. The playspaces and green areas offered are larger in Option 2.
The croquet lawn is public open space, managed by Crown Land and under the care and control of Hunter’s Hill Council. The Croquet Club members have enjoyed exclusive use of the croquet lawn since the women’s bowling club relocated to the Hunters Hill Club thirty years ago.
Over a quarter of the comments received during the consultation process expressed a strong desire to retain or increase public open space. This feedback has been incorporated into both design options. Option 2 has the potential to significantly expand the green and open space through the relocation of the Croquet Club.
Council is committed to achieving a great outcome for as many of our community members as possible. That’s why a representative group of Hunter’s Hill residents will be invited to join a Citizens’ Panel to deliberate and contribute to the final design option.
Consultants are currently reviewing the existing traffic conditions to understand how to make improvements to pedestrian access without impacting the road network.
The concepts on exhibition address the key issue of safety from Ryde Rd with a buffer zone, which would be a raised mound approximately 1 meter high along the perimeter of the road with plantings. It would also act as a noise barrier to reduce traffic noise, as well as a physical barrier to prevent objects going onto the road.
The designs include a green corridor onto the business village area of Gladesville Road and accessible pathways throughout the park to enable everyone to enjoy the park. New access points are also proposed from Matthew Street.
Both designs are proposed to have an accessible amenities block and inclusive playspaces accessible for many types of users.
A Citizens Panel brings together a representative group of community members with different perspectives and values to address a public problem. The Panel is provided with relevant evidence and information to come to a decision, which is then provided to Council as recommendations.
Council has engaged external consultants, Captivate Consulting, to coordinate the Citizens Panel for Figtree Park. This will include the selection of the panel members and facilitation of the workshop sessions. Thus this process is run independent of Council.
A small number of responses requested an off leash/dedicated dog area. The recommended minimum size of a fenced dog park is one acre, which would result in that being the predominant use of the site, and therefore would not be suitable for this site. A large off leash dog zone is also located 500m from Figtree Park, at Riverglade Reserve.
22 Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill NSW 2110
PO Box 21, Hunters Hill NSW 2110
Tel: (02) 9879 9400
We acknowledge that The Wallumedegal people of the Eora Nation are the Traditional Custodians of this land.