MEDIA RELEASE - Swing, slide, skate or ride – plenty of amazing new facilities on offer after $6.2m upgrade to Engadine’s Cooper Street Reserve

Scores of local residents were among the first to test out an amazing array of new recreational facilities on offer at Cooper Street Reserve yesterday, following the completion of a $6.2m revitalisation of the much-loved Engadine parklands delivered across two major infrastructure projects.

Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Carmelo Pesce was joined by the Minister for Sport, Steve Kamper, and Member for Heathcote, Maryanne Stuart, and Ward Councillors Diedree Steinwall and Greg McLean to officially open the new Cooper Street Active Sports Youth Precinct, a dramatic transformation of sports facilities which had been a feature of the reserve for decades.

The $3.2m project now provides local residents with ready access to a host of new active sports facilities catering to skaters, BMX riders, basketballer and parkour enthusiasts, with the upgrades having been jointly funded by Council and the state government through the NSW Government’s Greater Sydney Sport Facility Fund.

Mayor Pesce said he was delighted to see how well received the new facilities had been with local residents, following months of anticipation as the works took shape.

“We know how much local residents love getting out and getting active, and the amazing new facilities we now have at Cooper Street Reserve will better cater to the diverse range of sporting interests we have here in the Sutherland Shire,” Mayor Pesce said.

“This reserve has always been well used by local skaters, as it was the site of the first skate ramp built in the Sutherland Shire more than three decades ago. But with growing demand for competition standard skate facilities, local residents now have access to a vastly improved ‘skate plaza’ course to practice their skills.

“As we have seen from the hordes of skaters flocking to Council’s other major skate facilities at Bonna Point Reserve at Kurnell and more recently Seymour Shaw Park at Miranda, the demand for top-notch skate facilities continues to grow in the Sutherland Shire, with this new plaza course a welcome addition.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from the state government that this project received, with funding provided through the Office of Sport instrumental in allowing us to deliver such an impressive range of new and upgraded active sport facilities which we know will be well used by local residents.”

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said the project shows the NSW Government’s commitment to create spaces and places that enable communities to participate in sport at all levels.

“I’m incredibly proud of the $1.65m investment the NSW Government contributed towards turning the community’s vision into a reality, providing some outstanding facilities that will enable local residents to hone their sporting skills or develop a new sporting interest,” Mr Kamper said.

“Cooper Street Reserve is also a great example of the results that can be achieved through collaboration between local and state government.”

Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart said she was delighted to see the precinct now open to the community, noting the keen enthusiasm of local youngsters in putting the new facilities through their paces.

“Having met with some of the keen local skaters who have been keenly awaiting these new and improved facilities since the start of construction on this project, I know this Active Sports Youth Precinct is going to be well used for decades to come,” Ms Stuart said.

Among the new facilities delivered as part of the new Active Sports Youth Precinct are;

  • A ‘skate plaza’ skating course,
  • Pump track facilities for bike riders,
  • A parkour course,
  • A fitness course,
  • A bike repair station and water refill station,
  • Half-court basketball facilities; and,
  • Extensive seating and covered areas for shade.

However the new Active Sports Youth Precinct was far from the only exciting new facilities now completed at the popular reserve, with the delivery of a new $2.7m Council funded all-abilities playground providing plenty of new attractions to cater to younger children and those living with disability.

“The new all-abilities playground allows children of every ability the chance to explore a range of engaging play spaces, including a giant treehouse structure which reflects the beautiful natural surrounds of the park,” Mayor Pesce said.

“Not only is this new playground specially designed to provide a wide range of accessible play opportunities for kids of all ages and all abilities, but it’s also now the biggest playground anywhere in the Sutherland Shire, ensuring everyone can get in and give it a go.

“I was lucky enough to join members of Council’s Access and Inclusion Committee and a range of local disability stakeholders on site earlier this week for a special sneak peek at these new facilities, and can vouch for the fact they will be very well received by those living with a disability.”

Both projects come as the end result of extensive community consultation conducted to inform Council’s Cooper Street Masterplan, with further plans to upgrade the existing public toilets within the reserve, including provision of adult change facilities with hoist to cater for those living with disability currently in design.