We explained to the community that we are upgrading Jack Watkins Reserve in Kilburn and are excited to hear about the features our community like to see included in this upgrade.

We asked community members to select their preferences from a range of possible:

We offered a range of opportunities for the community to share their ideas and feedback on the features they'd most like to see included in the reserve upgrade and to highlight any issues or concerns they had about the site.

This included:

The community were interested and enthusiastic about improvements occurring in Jack Watkins Reserve. Everyone was positive about Council undertaking some work to make the space more user friendly, safe, interesting and engaging.

Due to its location adjacent to the Train Station visitors to the space are both transiting through and stopping there as the primary destination. While at Kilburn Shopping Centre, we found that many people were unaware of the reserve located close by and were therefore unable to genuinely participate in the survey apart from their general preferences for reserves and playgrounds that they visit.

We understand the importance of designing for the local community to create an appealing and activated space where everyone feels safe. Its important that the Place meets the specific cultural, recreational and social requirements of Kilburn and Blair Athol.

We will investigate incorporating a range of the following key elements into the Detailed Design, to encourage use by the local community.

After reviewing the consultation results, Sproutt our external contractor, has progressed the design by testing some of the highest priority ideas spatially, ready for Detailed Design.

This next phase will involve more community engagement and approval by Council Stakeholders.