Laurieton play space on track for July opening

THE new Laurieton play space is set to open by July, with construction commencing last week.

The play space project, located at Bruce Porter Reserve in Short Street, Laurieton, is funded by a $302,250 grant from the NSW Government’s Local Small Commitments Allocation Program with additional funding from Port Macquarie Hastings Council.

The project aims to create a welcoming and accessible destination for families along the Camden Haven River,  designed to encourage outdoor activity and inclusive play for children of all ages and abilities.

“The Camden Haven community told us clearly that they wanted a new play space that reflects the natural beauty of the area while providing fun and inclusive opportunities for children of all ages and abilities,” Mayor Adam Roberts said.

“Set against the backdrop of the Camden Haven River, this play space will be a welcoming place for families to gather and connect.”

The new play space has been shaped by extensive community consultation and will reflect strong local support for nature-based themes and play equipment that caters for a wide range of users.

It will combine active play elements with sensory and nature-rich experiences.

Key features will include a combination climb-and-slide play structure, a double flying fox with an accessible seat, five swings, accessible in-ground trampolines and a pelican rocker.

The space will also include a log obstacle course with climbing and balance elements, a wobbly rope challenge and a gum leaf cubby, alongside landscaping with sensory garden plants and musical chimes.

Visitors will also benefit from new footpaths, a sheltered picnic area, informal sandstone seating and connections to existing amenities including parking, a toilet block, bubbler, shade trees and the Beach-to-Beach Pathway.

Planning for a new play space in Laurieton began in December 2020 via consultation with the Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce to help inform the Draft Laurieton Town Centre Master Plan.

Additional consultation on the draft master plan was undertaken between November 2021 and March 2022, with the need for a new play space also identified through Council’s Places to Play Plan (Play Spaces), which was publicly exhibited in 2024 and adopted at the July 2025 Ordinary Council meeting.

An earlier proposal to locate the play space at Laurie Street, Laurieton was publicly exhibited in early 2025.

Through that consultation process, the community highlighted the historical and cultural significance of the site.

In response, Council determined not to proceed at that location and instead worked with the community to identify a more suitable site.

A second round of consultation, titled “Let’s build a play space in Laurieton: Tell us where it belongs”, was undertaken between August and September 2025.

The majority of respondents supported Bruce Porter Reserve in Short Street as the preferred location, which has since been identified as the new site for the play space.