Following the community engagement held in July and August this year, a Submission Review Panel was held on 12 October 2022. All those who had made a submission whether in objection or in support of the project were invited to present their concerns or feedback to a panel of Councillors.

Objectors’ concerns included the potential impact on traffic, a lack of safe pedestrian and cycling connections to the site, along with the loss of open space and off-leash dog areas, and potential overflow impacts to the rest of the reserve.

Following the Submissions Review Panel a Council report was prepared and Council considered the report at the 22 November meeting 2022. The report included a detailed engagement summary report, summary of key issues identified in all formal submissions, and the meeting minutes and a petition tabled at the Submissions Review Panel. The Council report can be found here.

At the 22 November meeting, Council, in recognition of both the general support for the location and the concerns raised by objectors, noted that Kingston Park remains the preferred location, and endorsed the formation of a Community Reference Group to assist in the detailed design.

The Terms of Reference is currently being prepared and an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Community Reference Group will go out in early 2023.

Following the detailed design process involving the Community Reference Group, report with a recommendation will come before the Council by August 2023.