A “critical need” for more open space in Lidcombe could see a tired-looking park finally get the upgrades it needs.
Updated playground equipment, outdoor furniture and public bathrooms are just some of the potential upgrades on the list for Chadwick Reserve, Lidcombe.
The possible improvements were discussed at the latest Cumberland Council meeting, with Councillor Helen Hughes pushing for better open spaces in the area.
“We’ve got so many people now in the Lidcombe town centre area that are trying desperately to be able to use some of the playground areas for their little persons that are in prams,” she said.
“Chadwick Reserve has been there for a while now but it’s very tired-looking, it [isn’t] terribly well used at all.”
Cr Hughes revealed some locals would rather go to parks further away than use Chadwick Reserve.
“It needs an upgrade but at this point in time, people who actually live on that north-side of Lidcombe in the town centre… they actually go over to Remembrance Park on the south-side because there isn’t any facility that’s usable comfortably on the north-side of Lidcombe,” she said.
With so many residential buildings already in Lidcombe and more expected to be on their way, Cr Hughes said “the more units we put up, the more open space we need”.
“In light of all the units that are getting built over in that area, [Chadwick Reserve] is going to be highlighted and certainly more accessible for people, particularly those with [prams],” she said.
“You’ve got lots of people living in units, they do not have that capacity to just have a little outdoor area for themselves – the open space is critical for our community.”
Cr Paul Garrard also agreed that Chadwick Reserve is “very tired-looking” and needs the updates.
“I think you only need to look at park benches in an area to know how well a park is looked after and when you see the paint falling off seats over there you got to say, well, maybe this place isn’t getting as much love and attention as it probably deserves,” he said.
However, with two properties north of Chadwick Reserve set to eventually be acquisitioned to make the park larger, some Councillors believe it would be better to hold off on the upgrades until then.
Although she agreed a bigger park would be good, Cr Hughes said that Chadwick Reserve could be stuck waiting many years for that to happen.
When put to a vote, Councillors unanimously supported the motion.
Council will now conduct a report outlining a potential upgrade of Chadwick Reserve and possible funding opportunities.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.