When providing open space the key areas of consideration relate to Benchmarks (Quantity and Distribution), Hierarchy (Service Catchment and Importance), Level of Service (Quality/ Design Features) and Function (Activities Catered for by the Open Space). An area of open space that is located higher in the open space hierarchy will generally be larger, will service a greater number of people and will have a higher level of service and function. A copy of the Level of Service is provided in Appendix 1.
Benchmarking – How much is needed?
Benchmark standards assist Council and other government agencies in the equitable distribution of resources. They minimise duplication and over-servicing and enable the identification of areas that
are underserviced, or which are likely to be underserviced as the population grows. Broadly, benchmarks assist in:
Enabling more efficient decision making about development proposals and external requests for facility improvements;
Informing asset management plans, and helping to establish maintenance regimes in keeping with the role of the space and level of importance and use of a space; and
Forecasting accurate costs.
Benchmarks have been identified in this strategy for the provision of:
Passive recreation parks in accordance with their hierarchy;
Sporting facilities at local, district and a sub-regional level; and
Premier facilities for major sporting codes.
The most basic way to identify open space demand is via the general provision rates of open space (traditional method) being 2.83ha of open space per 1,000 head of population as shown in the following table:
Ratio (ha/1,000 people)
Active Open Space 1.21
Passive Open Space 1.62
TOTAL 2.83
Table 1: General Provision Rates of Open Space (Traditional Method)
The above standards are derived from the British 7 acres per 1,000 standard from the early 1900s. It is based on the original British idea of providing adequate space for play and gymnastics for children.
The above standards should only be used as a starting reference in the absence of a needs based assessment. Whilst the above benchmark provides a reasonable indication of the overall quantity of open space required or supplied, it does not account for the distribution of open space (efficient access to open space), quality of the open space, improvements provided, or demand by the local community. Quite often this level of provision is not always achievable due to limitations with respect to the available land or high cost of land. In instances where the overall quantity of open space falls short of the standard benchmarks efforts should be made to ensure that the open space that is provided is well distributed and the overall quality of the open space is higher to improve its usability and capacity to support a higher number of people.
It is important to note that benchmarks can be provided in various forms including ‘catchment areas’
(proximity of residents to open space) and playing field/court ratios (number of persons per playing field or court). With respect to active open space, a more accurate means to determine playing field requirements is utilising a playing field per population ratio. At present, Council provides one playing
field per 2,144 people, placing it within the Parks and Leisure Australia’s ratio for playing fields of 1:2,000 – 2,500.
For the Shire’s established areas, a playing field ratio of 1:2,000 is proposed to enable playing field supply to be optimally managed. Within the Shire’s high density areas, the provision of active open space is substantially more difficult. It is proposed that the benchmark ratio of 1 playing field per 4,000 people (2,000 dwellings) be applied to high density areas around Sydney Metro Northwest Precincts and Baulkham Hills Town Centre. Based on an analysis of transit centres, there is expected to be a higher proportion of 20-39 year olds living in apartments (48%) and a lower
proportion of 0-20 year olds (16%). The ratio of 1 playing field per 4,000 people reflects the changing demographic expected in high density areas, noting that participation in organised sport generally declines with age. Whilst this ratio will result in a lower rate of provision than that within release areas, the resulting provision will consider the delivery of a diversity of recreation opportunities, which is a key focus of this strategy.
Hierarchy
Open space is provided according to a hierarchy of facilities. This is expressed as its catchment and primary function. The catchment of an area of open space determines its sphere of influence, the nature and scale of development and the likelihood of the number of people that will use it, and how far they are prepared to travel to utilise it. The primary function refers to the type of activities that are expected to be undertaken in the space. Many spaces provide several functions in the one location.
Figure 1: Active Recreation Benchmarks & Area Catchments
The hierarchy and the benchmark criteria and catchments for each type of ‘Active Open Space’ are included in Table 2:
Active Open Space Hierarchy and Benchmark Areas and Distances
Classification Definition Catchment Area
Ancillary
Ancillary playing fields, such as Ellerman Park in Dural are not a preferred approach for existing public open space. They consist of a single playing field, sometimes below full size. They are generally located within established areas and are limited in their use due to their restricted space. They can include related facilities, but generally lack required infrastructure. School sites where only a single playing field is possible due to limitations of available space can be considered. To ensure maximum usability at school sites, they will need to be full size fields and require as a minimum, synthetic playing surfaces, floodlighting, amenities and car parking.
1-2km
Subject to availability
of land
Local
This level is the most common sized playing field facility across the Shire. Examples include Centenary of ANZAC Reserve, Kellyville and George Thornton Reserve, West Pennant Hills. They predominantly include two full sized playing fields (occasionally 3-4 fields with basic level infrastructure for a single code), amenities, floodlighting and car parking. They include core infrastructure sufficient for grassroots local sport and recreation.
1-2km 5ha
District
District facilities, such as the Bernie Mullane Sports Complex, are generally larger and cater for a wide catchment including a minimum 4 full size playing fields.
They include a larger amenities building, floodlighting, car parking and multi-purpose/hard courts (tennis, netball, basketball etc.). They are generally suitable for grassroots local and representative sport, as well as recreation.
2km 5-10ha
Regional
Regional facilities cater for multiple sports and recreation opportunities such as Fred Caterson Reserve. They serve the entire LGA and visitors. They can be used for various levels from local sport, representative, state and national sport. These facilities are preferably located close to public transport links and also include ancillary passive recreational opportunities.
5-10km 10+ha
Table 2: Hierarchy - Active Open Space
Figure 2: Passive Recreation Benchmarks and Area Catchments
Passive Open Space Hierarchy
Classification Definition
Catchment (Subject to topography, barriers/busy
roads etc.)
Area
Local
Basic Park
Undeveloped park consisting of primarily turf, generally used as a kick-about area, such as Gilbert Road Reserve in Castle Hill. These spaces may include a bench/seat, some landscaping and a pathway link forming part of an extended route. They are generally small in size, but can also be a large undeveloped bushland setting.
400m 0.5-1ha
Local Park
Open space serving an immediate local catchment including adjoining and nearby surrounding streets, such as Turkeys Nest Dam Reserve in Beaumont Hills. They service the daily and weekly needs of surrounding residents, and are generally accessed by walking or cycling from surrounding areas. They contain basic infrastructure including a playground, attracting visitors on a regular basis for short stays of up to an hour.
400m 0.5-1ha
Passive Open Space Hierarchy
Classification Definition
Catchment (Subject to topography, barriers/busy
roads etc.)
Area
Suburban Park
These parks are slightly larger than local parks catering for a local catchment up to a suburb, such as Balcombe Heights Estate Reserve in Baulkham Hills. They contain slightly larger playgrounds than a local park with shade, sheltered seating/picnic facilities, drinking water, pathways and landscaping. They attract visitors on a regular basis for short to medium stays of an hour or two.
400m-1km 0.5-2ha
Local
Urban Park (High
Density Areas)
Open space servicing a larger local catchment of up to a suburb in higher density area, such as Arthur Whitling Park in Castle Hill. These parks embrace the character of an urban park containing recreational infrastructure of a larger volume than a local park – up to District Level, some elements such as playgrounds, formal paved areas, designated seating and shelter, and may include technological features such as wifi availability to cater for the increased surrounding population. They attract visitors on a regular basis for short to medium stays of an hour or two.
400m-1km 0.5-1ha
District
Open space serving a group of suburbs or ward area, such as Crestwood Reserve in Baulkham Hills. These spaces should contain multiple and diverse recreational opportunities including an extensive playground. They attract visitors from within and outside the Shire for medium to long term stays of 1-3 hours.
2km 2-5ha
Sub-regional
Open space serving a major portion of the Shire or region, such as the Castle Hill Showground. They are generally accessed by car and/or major public transport routes, but can be influenced specifically by their location, intent, purpose and historical value. These spaces generally contain multiple and diverse recreational opportunities or significant items of interest. They are destination facilities, attracting visitors from within and outside the Shire for long stays of more than 3 hours.
One facility
for the Shire 5+ha
Table 3: Hierarchy - Passive Open Space
Levels of Service – How will it be embellished?
Levels of Service assist Council with achieving a more equitable distribution of resources. They minimise duplication and over-servicing by not maintaining or developing spaces beyond their core requirements and hierarchy. Consideration however can be made to include optional items which may be relevant to some facilities and not others.
Levels of Service are an important consideration in the provision and planning of open space and associated features, as it provides a consistent quality benchmark to guide the design and
maintenance of open spaces. Such service levels also enable more accurate forecasting of costs.
Levels of Service are the link between community need/satisfaction and the cost of providing the service. An open space that has a higher level of service will have a higher cost of delivery
maintenance and renewal. User experience and expectation needs to be balanced with resourcing allocation across the range of assets and services that Council provides. The Standard Levels of Service table which identifies the open space features that are generally included for each type of open space within the Hierarchy is included in the Appendices.
Caddies Creek Playing Fields (Stage 1) Function
Function is a description of the service and/or activity being provided by the open space. The reason function is identified is to ensure a range of recreation opportunities can be experienced in a given catchment. Many functions overlap or a range of functions are provided in the one space. The following table describes the function of open space.
Function Definition
Passive Recreation
Traditional local and neighbourhood parks that may or may not have playground equipment however provide opportunities to be outdoors in a safe and aesthetically pleasing space. These areas typically provide opportunities for play, social gatherings, informal games and sports activities, exercise, as well as including amenity and environmental elements.
Active Sports Areas
These spaces are venues designed to support individual and team sports training and competition in a sustainable manner.
Urban Public Space
Public places that have been modified to support a changing urban density both residential and employment, and include newly designed parks and other open spaces, landscaped plazas or public squares, shopping centres and other large scale commercial developments, and popular festival sites.
Bushland / Conservation
Open space areas reserved or provided for the protection of flora and fauna. They may include existing bushland, grassland, riparian zones, wetlands and waterways, as well as potential habitat.
Waterways
Public areas often serving as dual functional facilities in managing stormwater and providing open space. These include dams, basins, rivers, creeks, rain gardens and wetlands.
Conservation &
Heritage
Open space areas reserved or provided for the protection of European or Indigenous cultural heritage.
Linear &
Linkages
Footpaths and cycleways that provide connection between streets and spaces and are not located on the road surface. Trails may connect or circumnavigate spaces. Open space areas reserved or provided for off-road trails, or pathways, that provide connections between streets and spaces.
Table 4: Functions of Open Space
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