Nestled between the banks of the Georges River and pristine bushland, and a stone’s throw from the Ingleburn city centre, is a reserve that is being given a new lease on life thanks to Campbelltown City Council and some innovative ideas from local students.
In developing a Draft Plan of Management for Ingleburn Reserve and providing a framework for the future use and management of the site, council is partnering with students from Campbelltown Performing Arts High School (CPAHS) to help boost patronage of the reserve by incorporating some of their fresh ideas.
More than 120 Year 8 students have worked collaboratively with council as part of a
place based learning program through the school, and the partnership has resulted in some innovative new ideas that will be incorporated into the Draft Plan of Management.
They include handrails featuring Indigenous designs and a sculpture garden.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr Paul Lake, said the project was important in seeking feedback from young people on what they would like to see at the reserve.
“The purpose of engaging the students was to explore avenues for the reserve which perhaps hadn’t been considered before, and create a sense of ownership among young people in the community towards their local environment,” Cr Lake said.
“The students were asked to look at ways to enhance the reserve with consideration of the environmental features of the site, and how their ideas could contribute to the overall well being of the community.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“In speaking with some of the students involved, I’d have to say their ideas were very impressive, and council looks forward to some of the more innovative concepts forming part of the final plan and taking shape at the reserve in the future,” Cr Lake said.[/social_quote]
Some ideas from students include educational signage concepts, new bin designs, handrails down to the weir featuring Indigenous designs, and a sculpture garden engaging students from Ingleburn Primary School.
The ideas are all geared toward promoting environmental awareness at the site by creating opportunities for local schools to visit and learn about the surrounding flora and fauna or participate in water quality activities.
Enhancements to Ingleburn Reserve are already under way, with council set to replace the existing playground this month as part of its Renew-Connect-Revitalise city-wide improvement works program.
The works program has also recently seen the installation of a new fully automated and sensor operated Exeloo public amenity building at the reserve.
In coming months, the Exeloo’s facade will feature one of the award winning designs by a student from the South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, further complementing the area’s natural surrounds.
Ingleburn Reserve, accessed via Picnic Grove, Ingleburn, sits adjacent to the Georges River gorge and the historical Ingleburn Weir, and has been a popular picnic ground for locals since the 1920s.
The reserve is home to a number of endangered plant species, as well as a range of native birds and other wildlife.
The Draft Plan of Management for Ingleburn Reserve is being developed, and will be considered by council later this year.
For more information on the reserve, visit http://www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/IngleburnReserve
Finally we are saving bushlands ????