George Edmunds Reserve - Amenities Replacement

Project typeAmenities Upgrade
Project value$299,670.00
Project scheduleImplementation
Contractor nameBellingen Shire Council

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Timeframe

Expected completion in May 2025

Project Scope

This project includes the replacement of the public amenities at George Edmunds Reserve; a popular recreational spot in Bellingen, located on the banks of the Bellinger River. The amenities are regularly used by locals and tourists alike, who use the area to engage in water-based recreation, leisure, social, and community connection activities.

The flooding event that occurred early in 2022 saw the Bellinger River water levels rise almost to the roof of the existing amenities. As a result of this and numerous preceding flooding events, there is deterioration and wet rot of the timber structures. The amenities are also difficult to clean - both during normal maintenance and after flooding events, which poses a safety and health concern for the community. In addition, the amenities have recently been vandalised and are currently closed for the public.

This project will replace the old amenities with a new modular, accessible, vandal and flood resilient structure.

Council received funding under the Community Assets Program (CAP) 2022, which is a program under the $207 million Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package (CLIRP 2022), jointly funded by the NSW and Australian governments.

Community Impacts

The existing amenities have been vandalised in January 2024 and are closed for the public, since. As the nearest public amenities are only 280m away (next to the Bellingen Museum, opposite Council Main Offices and Chambers), no temporary toilets have been placed within the George Edmunds Reserve and no temporary toilets for the community will be provided during construction.