FAQs ?

Do you have a question about this project? You might find the answer below. If not, please contact us.

The City of Charles Sturt, through the Open Space Strategy, has identified a need for additional open space in Albert Park. A new reserve will be developed at the corner of Spad Street and Farman Avenue, through the purchase of land previously owned by the SA Housing Authority and Unity Housing Company.

The consultation has two parts:

  1. The development of a new Community Land Management Plan (CLMP) for the site, as required by the Local Government Act 1999.
  2. A draft concept design for the new reserve, that is consistent with council’s requirements for a ‘neighbourhood’ reserve of this size.

Consultation will commence at 9.00am on Thursday, 19 January 2023 and will run for 4 weeks, closing at 5.00pm on Friday, 17 February 2023.

Yes, you can, and we would love to chat with you!

We will be holding an onsite community session at nearby Gordon Reserve, Corner Gordon Street & Willowie Street, Albert Park), on Saturday, 4 February, 10.30am to approx. 12.00pm.

Our community engagement officer will also be working from the Cheltenham Community Centre at 62 Stroud Street North, Cheltenham on Tuesday, 31 January from 9.30am-3.30pm. Please feel free to drop in to talk about the consultation, get help with your online feedback submission/s or ask any questions.

We hope to speak with you in person throughout the engagement!

Council has allocated $1.145 million in funding and has also secured over $1.9 million from the State and Federal Governments, to purchase the land and enable the construction of the new reserve.

The draft concept design has been developed by council’s landscape architects and includes features that are consistent with a ‘neighbourhood’ reserve of this size (approximately 3,150m2). The design also considers the available budget, including clearing the site, installation of below-ground infrastructure (e.g. irrigation and power) and above-ground features (e.g. playground, footpaths, landscaping, etc).

The draft concept design includes:

  • A fenced and inclusive playground, suitable for younger children of toddler to upper primary school age.
  • A small amphitheatre, providing seating and space for social connection.
  • Path connections through the reserve.
  • A shelter with picnic table and bench seating.
  • Drinking fountain.
  • A central grassed area.
  • Garden beds around the perimeter, with new trees and vegetation.
  • Path lighting.
  • Opportunities for public art in the future.
  • Fencing along Spad Street and Farman Avenue.

Do you have other reserve feature ideas? If so, please come and visit us at Gordon Reserve on Saturday, 3 December 2022 or complete the online feedback form to share them with us.

Gordon Reserve is located at the corner of Gordon Street and Willowie Street, Albert Park, approximately 500 metres south of the Spad Street site. It includes play equipment for primary school aged children, basketball and netball half-court and a bicycle track for young people, a shelter with picnic table and seating, a drinking fountain, and grassed areas.

Clarice Sutherland Reserve is located at the intersection of De Haviland Avenue and Vickers Avenue, Hendon, approximately 350 metres west of the Spad Street site. It includes play equipment for toddler to primary school aged children, a BBQ, shelter with picnic table and seating, drinking fountain, footpath and grassed areas.

Butler Reserve is located at the intersection of De Haviland Avenue and Vickers Avenue, Hendon, approximately 350 metres south of the Spad Street site. It includes a grassed area with a formal garden bed, seating and a BBQ.

The concept design is a draft only - something to start off with and get your creative ideas flowing. The plan is open to some change and, as we want to ensure we provide a reserve the community will love and benefit from, we do want to understand how the design could be improved to meet your needs, and those of the wider community.

Council staff will collate the feedback from this consultation, including feedback from the forms, discussions, and suggestions from the community information session and drop in, and any other public submissions. This information will be provided to the designers to be considered and to see what we might be able to amend or change to accommodate that feedback (within budget contraints).

The results of the community engagement process will be formatted into a Community Engagement Report, and will be used to inform a final concept design.

A Council report will then be prepared by staff, likely with a proposed final design for construction. This will be presented to the Council at its next available meeting, with the engagement report included as an Appendix.

Your feedback will help us to refine the draft Community Land Management Plan (CLMP) and draft concept design, using your suggestions and ideas to ensure the reserve meets the needs and expectations of the Albert Park and surrounding community for years to come.

Construction of the reserve is expected to commence in mid-2023 and is anticipated to take approximately 5 or so months. This is an estimate only and is subject to contractor availability, material supply and weather conditions, however efforts will be made to ensure minimal disruption to residents.

If you have an interest in following the progress of the CLMP and Reserve projects, we strongly encourage you to visit the Charles Sturt YourSay project pages and click on the "Follow" button in the project banners (above). Otherwise, we will share updates via the Charles Sturt YourSay project pages as they become available, so you can check back here from time to time.

When Council is due to consider a report on the community engagement results and the staff recommendations relating to the draft CLMP and a proposed final reserve design, we will publish a news update to the YourSay project page, and a notification will be sent to all project followers. We will also reach out to all contributors to the engagement process via their preferred contact method and notify where and when the report will be available for the public to view.

Onsite signage at the reserve will be installed during the engagement period and, again, prior to any reserve and playground works being undertaken and to share the final design with the community.

We have tried to provide as much information as possible on this project page, however if you need something more or just have some questions about the design or project, please call or email key project staff, below: