The Beagle Editor, What plans are there for public open space in Batemans Bay town centre. With much changing in the Bay with the new bridge and Mackay Park development you have to ask have any areas been identified as safe areas for traffic access and families in close proximity to the Batemans Bay CBD to provide a future Town Park? While Batemans Bay has a prominent foreshore, water gardens and numerous pocket parks, the town centre does not have a specific civic park (town park). It appears at this stage, that Council has not identified any areas within the Batemans Bay town centre for a future town park, however they say that "they plan to prepare a master plan for the Batemans Bay town centre that will assess the existing open space network and may propose future recommendations for open space within the town centre." The MacKay Park area could provide areas suitable to accommodate a Town Park. The recent concept plans showed gardens outside the pool and theatre and the General Manager has indicated that these gardens might also have sculptures. Asking Council if that area been investigated to provide a needed Town Park they have responded saying "The design options for Mackay Park Aquatic, Arts and Leisure Centre provide a high quality public realm around the proposed complex that will significantly add value to the public open space network within the Batemans Bay town centre. However, there is no proposal to develop a town park in the Mackay Park precinct." When asked about other open space projects of note within the Batemans Bay town centre the Council have advised, in respect of the Batemans Bay Bridge Realignment Foreshore "It is important to note that the Batemans Bay Bridge Realignment will facilitate additional and continual foreshore along Batemans Bay (underneath the new bridge realignment). The additional foreshore will enable more opportunities for community activities and connection along the foreshore. The project will also create a through access along Clyde Street, providing better connection of the peninsula (west of Princes Highway) with the Batemans Bay town centre."
Good news for the Albert Ryan Park groups though with Council saying the Eurobodalla’s Recreation Open Space Strategy has prioritised the upgrade Albert Ryan Park to include increased recreational facilities and amenity in the park. Allan Brown Catalina
