Chinderah park upgrades to boost flood resilience and accessibility

TWEED Shire is seeking community feedback on draft concept plans to upgrade Turnock Park and John Oxley Park at Chinderah to make the parks more flood resilient, welcoming and accessible.

The works will cost $1.4 million combined, as part of a $15.5 million funding package from the Australian and NSW governments to restore and improve storm and flood damaged community assets.

Both parks located along Chinderah Bay Drive were inundated by the 2022 floods.

The proposal for Turnock Park includes new play equipment for children aged from 2 to 13, accessible barbecue, picnic tables and shelters, a new accessible toilet and car park, a new drinking fountain, ornamental entrance and linked pathways.

John Oxley Park will see the demolition of the existing public toilet and shelters to make way for an accessible unisex public toilet, picnic area, shelters and connected pathways.

Tweed Shire manager of parks and active communities Murray Smith said the projects would ensure the parks were safer, more inviting and continue to support the health and wellbeing of Chinderah’s residents and visitors.

“During the 2002 flood, floodwater inundated Turnock Park, causing substantial damage to the internal access road and car park.

“The upgrade of including the playground and public toilets is a high priority in Council’s Open Space Strategy.

“The upgraded John Oxley Park along the southern shoreline of the river next to the Chinderah boat ramp will become more inviting, and offer better opportunities to view the river.”

The shire will host a free barbecue breakfast at Turnock Park for residents to discuss plans for both parks on July 21 from 9am to 11am.

The draft plans will be on public exhibition until 4pm on July 24 at yoursaytweed.com.au/turnockpark and yoursaytweed.com.au/john-oxley-park