The news of the $3 million redevelopment of Hindmarsh Park left many wondering why it was decided to spend all that money there.

The money is coming from State Government’s NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program. The Program was set up as a carrot for local councils to improve DA processing times, and Kiama Council has met the first milestone for the funding.

“The funding conditions for the program were strictly limited to major upgrades to major recreational or open space areas,” says Council’s Director Engineering & Works, Mike Dowd.

“We looked at options of spreading the project funding amongst a couple of areas, including Gerringong.

“But in our conversations with the State Government, they said they wanted one site to do major work and major refurbishment on.

“As there were Council resolutions about putting the rocket ship back or doing something more with the space, it was a logical thing to say let’s focus on Hindmarsh Park and do something great.”

Council still tried to spread the funding out in its application, to include works in the Harbour precinct leading up to Blowhole Point, but the approval narrowed that down to in and around Hindmarsh Park.

While the project is still at the concept stage, Mr Dowd says the vision is for it to include greater accessibility for people with disabilities, engagement with the youth as part of the design process, and improved pedestrian crossings facilities across Shoalhaven Street to create seamless connectivity down to the harbour.

“That’s where we want a landscape architect and the community to build off the big broad concepts to tell us the detail of what we want,” he says.

Tenders from landscape architects are currently being assessed, and Mr Dowd hopes the recommendation to award the tender will be put to the October Meeting of Council.

The Park's traditional use as a concert area will need to be considered in the design

“We won’t know what the community engagement process looks like in detail until then because each of the consultants have come up with a different approach,” he says.

“We are talking about probably a six to nine month process of talking to people, and coming up with concepts and ideas before we finalise what we are actually going to do there.”

The money has to be spent by 2023.

A major redevelopment of Hindmarsh Park was not envisaged in the Town Centre Study, and if it proves to be a major attraction it may bring forward some of the impacts of the Traffic & Parking Study.

“From a planning perspective, a playground or those sorts of things don’t require a number of car parking spaces like a development does,” says Mr Dowd.

“Putting a rocket ship or splash pad or whatever it is in this park is going to enhance the visitation that is already happening.”