COMMUNITY drop-in sessions and an information presentation will be held in Rathmines today (Thursday) as part of Lake Macquarie City Council's consultation process for its concept master plan for Rathmines Park.
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Major improvements and new features are planned across the entire Rathmines Park precinct, the council said.
The concept plans, available online at shape.lakemac.com.au/Rathmines-park, include the former RAAF seaplane base and its surviving buildings, as well as sports grounds, parkland, playgrounds and the lake foreshore.
The council's recreation and land planning coordinator Stephen Prince said council was moving into its second phase of development for a Master Plan and Plan of Management for Rathmines Park.
"Last year we engaged the community to find out how they used the park, and to get their ideas about how we could improve the space," Mr Prince said.
The outcomes from those engagement activities, as well as recommendations from the Conservation Management Plan adopted last year have been used to inform the draft concept master plan for the park, he said.
The draft concept plans include improvements to recreation and sports facilities, improved access, new landscaping and vegetation and enhanced interpretation of the site's military and Aboriginal history.
An expanded youth hub would include a "substantially improved" skate/pump track and multipurpose court, with an opportunity to host food vans and an event stage.
Improved play facilities for children would include an interactive play space celebrating the area's military and Aboriginal history.
A learn-to-ride track for young cyclists, outdoor fitness equipment and improved picnic facilities would be among the new features.
The draft plan also includes a number of larger, potentially more complex projects including reinstatement of overnight RV camping and a Catalina aircraft hangar.
Mr Prince said the concept master plans aimed to provide space for sporting, recreation and community group activities and events, while respecting, conserving and celebrating the site's history and heritage.
Council will host drop-in sessions on Thursday, March 5, with project staff on-site to provide further information and collect community feedback.
The drop-in sessions will be at Rathmines shops from 12pm to 2pm, and from 3pm to 5pm at Rathmines Park. A community information session will follow, from 6pm to 8pm, at Catalina Conference Centre, on Dorrington Road. RSVPs for this session are essential.
