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What do you think is the best balance of active and passive recreation use in such a space?
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Comment 1 28 Jan 2010, 11:06 AM
Seeing as the Aquatic Centre has a use by date now, maybe it could be moved down into the valley and then somehow use the land from the exisitng pool to access the valley. Parkland and Recreation at a ratio of 1:3
Comment 1.1 28 Jan 2010, 8:57 PM
Both active and passive free land around Central Hornsby is at a premium, pool should stay where it is.
Comment 1.2 6 Feb 2010, 7:00 PM
I like this idea, hornsby park near the highway could be made larger with a restaurant and cafe to activate it, as well as a larger playground. The new aquatic centre down in the valley could then provide a focus for a new park in the valley
Comment 1.3 23 Feb 2010, 12:51 AM
A balance of passive and active but OMV should not become the home of any sporting clubs or organisations. Active recreation can be casual and informal. Organised sporting events can be held occasionaly.
Comment 2 28 Jan 2010, 7:26 PM
Give us a grand park with a mixture of areas such as:
- One with mature European trees (like any number of parks on the North Shore or near the harbour)
- Another with Sydney Olympic Park style
We have one similar at Fagan Park, and it's a great facility but there's two features it doesn't have - proximity to public transport (accessibility for those who cannot or do not wish to drive suffers), and large mature northern hemisphere trees.
While the trees will take some time to grow, they never will unless we start now. If Council had the vision 20 years ago we could have them now - we can instead help the future residents.
We already have a wealth of native bush and don't need any more, but currently to visit an established and beautiful European-style park we have to travel out of the shire (at least to Wahroonga Park). While we are the Bushland Shire, it doesn't hurt to draw tourists from other shires, or have a place for weddings, etc. Active sports can easily be accommodated in or around such parks.
Comment 3 28 Jan 2010, 8:25 PM
Something similar to Centennial Park would be nice - something where people can walk their dogs, have picnics, ride bikes, kids can play on equipment, people can feed the ducks etc - a park with multiple functions.
You can have allocated space for sporting grounds eg lawn areas for cricket, soccer, footy, etc, but don't have actual sporting facilities, as they are expensive to run and used by few.
Comment 3.1 28 Jan 2010, 8:54 PM
Include free range dog area from day one
Comment 3.2 29 Jan 2010, 9:25 PM
Mrs Coulon, Centennial Park is the spot on model for what's needed - with mountain bike trails extending into surrounding bush.
Comment 3.2.1 5 Feb 2010, 8:30 PM
I agree that mountain bike trails are needed, but not in a European style Centennial Park. A local council and its ratepayers will not be able pay for its massive construction and ongoing maintenance costs. I doubt we would be happy to have the large number of rock concert/festivals each year that are required to fund Cent.Park's upkeep.
Please stick to Oz bush with sustainable bike trails and minimum other construction, with leased out cafe, and kids playground, picnic area. Other local use facilities such as Skateboarder and BMX facility. Thanks.
Comment 3.2.1.1 21 Feb 2010, 2:49 PM
Graham, why would we want more bushland? There is already so many National Parks around that have bush trails. And as others have mentioned, Mountain Biking needs to looked at holistically, not just for this smallish area.
You can actually charge people to have wedding or use sporting grounds to pay for the maintenance. The only 'massive' construction costs you would really have would be creating picnic grounds, toilets, bbqs and kids play areas (you have also suggested that to be included). And possibly creating a pond or two. Upkeep would mainly require the lopping of tree branches and mowing of more…
Comment 3.2.1.2 24 Feb 2010, 1:07 PM
Well said Mrs Coulon. Hornsby is surrounded by Oz bush - we dont need to artificially create more of it - the majority of OMV is disturbed land not bushland - it is ideal for a Centennial Park style parkland....including a skate park.
Comment 3.3 29 Jan 2010, 10:20 PM
Sounds like a wonderful idea. An area for all to enjoy!!!
Comment 4 28 Jan 2010, 9:52 PM
European-style park sounds like a nice variation to what we have so much of. One can take a bush-walk from the park. I think More active than passive, however if I lived next to the quarry I'd go mad from Netball or Soccer whistles blowing.
Mountain bikes (off road bicycles with soft tires) are pretty quiet.
Comment 5 28 Jan 2010, 10:26 PM
How about a wildflower garden that is educational, like the one in St Ives? I guess that counts as passive. A mountain bike trail would be a good form of active recreation. Don't turn it into yet another sports field as they are a dime a dozen around Sydney. Overall I think the balance should be to passive recreation - let it be a space that everyone can enjoy in their own way, by means of a variety of natural features: gardens, lawns, trees, ponds, trails etc.
Comment 5.1 31 Jan 2010, 12:01 AM
Is St.Ives so far to go for a wildflower garden that we need another one here in Hornsby? Go enjoy Lisgar Gardens or Fagan Park. Sporting fields are not "a dime a dozen" in this shire. Let's keep our youth active, and not provide just fields and ovals, but also MTB trails and skateboard parks, and much more.
Comment 6 29 Jan 2010, 10:56 AM
After living here for nearly 30 years, raising children here and now empty-nested, it's seems to me there's a need for a large multi-function precinct serving the needs of many different groups which might include:
1) Parkland incorporating the old quarry turned into a beautiful lake for waterbirds, small boats and perhaps fishing.
2) Indoor swimming pool complex capable of hosting school swimming carnivals (my children remember miserable swimming carnivals at Hornsby Pool in the rain). Water slides etc and graded pools for younger children might be partially outdoors with fenced open air grassy areas for picnics and sunbathing.
3)A large cultural more…
Comment 6.1 31 Jan 2010, 12:06 AM
Valleydweller's on the right track, and done right, there would be no need for higher rates. The Quarry and Environs site has the potential to be a major tourist attraction. It could turn a considerable profit for the shire and local businesses, and provide jobs as well. Especially for our youth.
Comment 6.1.1 24 Mar 2010, 1:42 PM
At last somebody is acknowledging the need for thinking outside the sport square. It is true that we want our children to stay active, but not all sports are as visible as soccer, cricket or bike riding. There are just as many children spending hours and hours practicing varied dancing disciplines all over Hornsby Shire (more than 20 dance schools in the immediate vicinity of OMV alone). There is currently nowhere for these schools to perform their concerts. We are also blessed with many talented music groups and musicians, just think how busy the Mall gets with buskers over the holidays. Having a site so close to the station, will bring many visitors to pump business into our restaurant precincts too. The aging population will be better served by cultural activities than massive open playing fields.
I understand that this sort of development is costly and much further down the track than the immediate landscaping needs for the site, however, the design of the gardens and bike tracks can already make provision for such a space.
(Does anyone consider where global warming will leave us in 20 years time? What if outdoor sport becomes impossible)
Comment 6.2 11 Feb 2010, 3:55 PM
Valleydweller do you believe HSC could manage the cost of your dream with an increase in the rates.
We are in serious debt with the Hornsby Quarry and the levy introduced in 2005 is due to be terminated in 2015. Has anyone sighted an audit on the status of this $25 million debt. What amount is still owing after five years?
In December HSC determined it would approach the Minister for Local Government, seeking approval for rate increase of 5.8% to fund an infrastructure levy. This would carry on for every year, the time span has not been published.
HSC has used online more…
Comment 7 29 Jan 2010, 10:31 PM
The area should definatley have a very large or multiple childrens playgrounds with multiples of the same play equipment that cater for different age groups. i.e. >2 swings and >1 slippery dip etc. The problem with most of the play areas around hornsby is that they only cater for a small age group of children, thus families with children of different ages find it hard for all the children to play in one area.
An area for little children to ride their bikes would also be good. I have been to a number of different parks outside the shire that have a bike track that is like a little road with intersections, stop signs etc so that children can not only ride their bikes but also learn how to obey the road rules
Comment 8 30 Jan 2010, 9:29 PM
A grand park would be great with bike trails around the edges. Open spaces. Like centennial park has been mentioned. Children's play areas although something different to plastic construction. We have plenty of that.
-Another thing we lack is a community garden. This would not add a lot of noise but has been noted by many as contributing positively to communities which do.
- I agree the pool could stay in it's current location, just give it a thorough overhaul.
Comment 9 3 Feb 2010, 1:07 PM
I'd like to see the site become a well landscaped area of parkland for picnics/BBQ's. For active recreation create a network of trails to cater for cyclists, walkers and joggers.
To cater for cyclists of all abilities provide a kids bike area, dirt jump / skills park area, and cross country single track surrounding the park and heading into the neighbouring bushland.
Walkers could get a loop to take in the historical elements of OMV and the Quarry, as well as the quality bush walks that already exist.
Comment 9.1 3 Feb 2010, 2:23 PM
Adam12's sounds like the best idea yet !
Comment 9.2 3 Feb 2010, 4:26 PM
This is a great idea we have a blank canvas here and with correct design we could cater for all of Hornsby shires age differences and needs with landscaped parks and small facilities the area could become a mecca for healthy living and recreation. A mountain bike / bush walking trail head that leads you off into the valley with skills park for bikes and boards - play equipment with some shelter, BBQ's, coffe shops etc, all surrounded by landscped gardens and ponds perhaps. The pool is already in a spot easily accessable to public and private transport and doesn't need to be moved just upgraded.
Comment 9.2.1 5 Feb 2010, 12:29 PM
I think the area should be turned into multi use parkland along the lines of what Mt Gambier has done with their crater lakes.
They have mountain bike trails of varying uses (downhill, cross country and just leisurely riding for the family.)
There are also grassed picnic areas with barbeques, toilets and a kiosk.
Something along the lines of what Bobbin Head used to be 20 or 30 years ago before the NP wrecked it.
We've got plenty of bushwalking trails and areas in the shire, what is needed is something along the lines of Centennial Park with the added bonus of easy access to bushland just beside it.
We have a severe lack of FREE park and picnic areas available for residents, sporting fields are fine but are used mostly on weekends by a relatively small minority of the population. The residents that live in all the Meriton blocks will appreciate it too.
Comment 9.3 3 Mar 2010, 9:57 PM
I agree that the site should cater for mountain bikes, especially cross sountry. There are some excellent single track in the local area but unfortunately these tracks are no longer available to mountain bikers. This presents a great opportunity. Something like the Manly Dam circuit would be ideal. With global warming approaching it is a shame that I have to drive my car in order to enjoy exercising whilst riding single track. I'd like to be able to ride to the track.
Comment 10 5 Feb 2010, 3:01 PM
Look at suburbs like Eltham and Templestowe in Melbourne where they have indoor running tracks, swimming pools and activities centres for all ages - admission charges do apply but are reasonable. Would like to see an all-weather walking track and if this is to be shared with bicycles then quite a wide track in order not to be run down by bicycles being ridden at break-neck speed. Perhaps signage saying "please ring your bicycle bell when approaching pedestrians.
Comment 10.1 6 Feb 2010, 10:49 AM
Mixing walking trails and MTB trails would be slightly dangerous.
I think it would be safer for everyone to have single track designated for mountain bikes that made the most of the undulations and contours of the valley AND also separate walking trails that joined with the other walking trails of the area.
Comment 10.1.1 6 Feb 2010, 2:52 PM
I agree - mixing mtb trails and walking would be dangerous. A MTB cross country trail that utilises the countours of the landscape would be excellent and you could have walkin trails that cross it.
Comment 11 11 Feb 2010, 4:15 PM
This is a unique opportunity for the Hornsby Shire which has to be viewed from the perspective of time. Decades later, when high rise is far more widespread, sporting arena / ovals proliferate by the funds they generate, it is the simple bushland close to town centres that will be the most valued.
To be able to take a stroll in bushland; to walk along a lake, to picnic under tall timbers in the summer or bush gardens in the winter. It is this most passive of recreations that, I believe, require the most advocacy.
For the above to be meaningful the scale is paramount. It has to be large. Not just the hilly difficult parts.
There is no greater opportunity for this than in OMV
Comment 11.1 23 Feb 2010, 9:06 PM
Hornsby is surrounded by bushland. OMV is not bushland now and it would be a great waste to turn it into bushland.
Viewing it from the perspective of time is the only way to do so because it will take that long to complete. The opprortunity is to create a great urban parkland. A lake could be nice.
Informal active recreation also needs advocacy.
Comment 12 8 Mar 2010, 5:15 PM
The OMV area needs to have complimentary recreation that merge to form a harmonious environment. Parks, gardens and paths can be used to help soften the more hardcore recreation facilities such as playing fields.
I think a central multi use undercover area would be great. Something for community groups, whether it be a garden society, cricket team, soccer club, church group, sporting club to have a meal together / meeting. Seating for about 30 people. This could be located near toilets and BBQs and by dedicating some resources and some great architecture then this could be a great focal point. And by making it available to many groups means there is great bang for your buck!
Re mountain biking. OMV is not big enough to provide a mtb singletrack. It is however a perfect location for a trail head. Single tracks snaking their way into the trail head and then out again will connect this area to the broader bushland where the trails can be kept quite separate to the other activity in OMV. The trail head could be located at the shelter I described above. Just need some signs, maybe wheel scrubbers to remove mud and seeds etc.