In June, Council adopted two separate plans that will help guide future investment in sport, recreation and everyday movement across Central Coast.
The Sport Infrastructure Future Directions Plan sets out a 10-year direction for Council’s sport and recreation facilities, including how local grounds, courts, clubrooms and shared spaces are planned, maintained and improved over time.
The Active Transport Strategy 2026 sets out a long-term plan for walking, riding, wheeling and other everyday transport connections, including footpaths, shared paths, crossings, town centre links and the Coastal Pathway.
Together, the plans will help Council plan, prioritise and deliver infrastructure that supports active, healthy and connected communities.
What we heard
For the Sport Infrastructure Future Directions Plan, Council heard from a broad range of sporting organisations, user groups and community members, including 26 targeted consultations, community survey responses and feedback on the draft Plan.
That feedback confirmed the strong value the community places on sport and recreation, particularly its role in supporting health, wellbeing and social connection. People also identified the importance of quality facilities, equitable access and ongoing investment to maintain and improve infrastructure.
It also reinforced some of the key challenges identified in the Plan, including uneven use of facilities, capacity pressure at some venues, changing participation trends, inconsistent facility standards and the long-term cost of maintaining a broad sporting network.
Feedback on the draft Plan also brought particular attention to Turners Beach Recreation Ground and the Ulverstone Dog Park and Kennel Club. At Turners Beach, Council will continue working with the football and cricket clubs on the future needs of the site. For the Ulverstone Dog Park and Kennel Club, Council is still working through what a future facility could look like, including the possible relocation of the Kennel Club to River Road. If the project progresses, further consultation will help shape the location, scope and design.
For the Active Transport Strategy 2026, feedback showed strong support for improving walking, riding, wheeling and mobility access across Central Coast.
People supported the focus on active transport as part of daily life, not just recreation. As one respondent said, “I think one of the best things about Ulverstone and Central Coast is being able to walk to a huge range of services and recreation without needing a car or limited use of cars.”
Key themes included prioritising the Coastal Pathway, identifying network gaps, improving safety and accessibility, planning for people of all ages and abilities, and providing supporting infrastructure such as lighting, seating and amenities.
Completing missing Coastal Pathway links, particularly between Penguin and West Ulverstone, was one of the strongest and most repeated themes.
Some respondents called for stronger cycling infrastructure, including protected or separated routes. The final Strategy recognises the importance of separated cycling routes, while giving first priority to basic walking and access gaps, including footpaths, safer crossings and connections that support people walking, using mobility aids, pushing prams or moving around local areas without a car.
This feedback helped Council better understand local priorities and identify where more detailed planning, design, funding and consultation will be needed.
Thanks for sharing your feedback
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the draft documents, speak with Council, complete a survey or provide a submission.
The adoption of these plans does not mean every project will happen immediately. Future works will continue to be considered through Council’s annual budgets, capital works program, asset planning and external funding opportunities.
You can follow updates on these projects, and future opportunities to have your say, through My Central Coast.
