For years it’s just been the ‘park by the creek’ in Hastings Point but, as of last week’s council meeting, it has a new name and is about to have a new look.
Council last week voted to officially name the park, one of the most well-known spots on the Tweed Coast, ‘Cudgera Creek Park’, after extensive consultation with the community.
The park will also get a brand new (but not too radical) look, with $225,000 earmarked for a facelift which will include landscaping, new barbecues and drinking fountains, bike racks, picnic tables, shelters, decks, a new shower and additional playground equipment.
The current playground will be upgraded with rubberised ground cover.
Council’s Hastings Point Progress Association president Gary Thorpe said it was good to see sanity prevail after some talk that ‘Cudgera Creek Park’ would cause confusion with ‘Cudgera Creek Road’.
“It is the right name, after all, it is on Cudgera Creek,” he said.
“The park has never really had a name before, it was always just the park at the creek mouth.”
He said the park was a landmark for the Coast’s smallest village and he had been glad of the Council’s approach to the improvements, although residents have been calling for work since his own children were small enough to use the playground.
“They’re in university now!” he laughed.
“There was going to be educational signage but it looked too busy and so that has been moved.
“The plan is to show the natural beauty of the area and give us a few more facilities.”
He said he had been pleased with the public consultation throughout the process.
Council first put their plans on public display last year and, after some tweaking, work is expected to start in four weeks.
