Crescent Head shed lowered as Council raises engagement with community

Published on 18 July 2023

Community frustration in response to the partially constructed maintenance shed in Crescent Head Holiday Park has sparked a commitment from Kempsey Shire Council to lower the roof and improve community engagement.

The Holiday Park Maintenance Shed was constructed to replace existing storage that will be demolished to make way for the new Crescent Head Country Club’s tennis clubhouse.

In response to the concerns raised by the community in relation to the maintenance shed, Councillors voted on Tuesday to reduce the height of the shed to minimise the visual impacts of the structure.

They also moved to align the replacement walking path to the north-eastern side of the shed and complete the landscaping around the rear of the facility.

This motion came as an alternative to an original motion to remove the newly constructed maintenance shed. Two members of the Crescent Head community spoke to this motion during Monday evening’s public forum.

Council also acknowledged that improvements are required in processes around informing the community of works to be undertaken. In discussing the motion, Councillors noted that while mistakes were made, staff were focused on and motivated by good decision-making principles.

Councillors additionally moved to establish a Crescent Head Focus Group and recruit members via an Expression of Interest with selection criteria to come to Council in September or October for endorsement prior to recruitment.

The focus group would exist for a minimum two years and have a clearly defined purpose:

• To inform, consult, involve and collaborate on planning and development matters in Crescent Head
• To repair and rebuild relationships between the Crescent Head community and Kempsey Shire Council

The Crescent Head Country Club’s tennis facility’s new multifunctional clubhouse, funded under the Stronger Country Communities Fund, replaces the existing facility which provides storage for the Holiday Park. 

The site for the new shed was identified to minimise earthworks and service relocation costs, as well as to retain existing visitor sites within the park. Where possible, Council will seek to protect the capacity of our Holiday Parks, which support our visitor economy and provide revenue that directly funds the maintenance and improvement of Crown Land parks and reserves across the Shire.