With the announcement of the extensive Stage Three of Council’s COVID-19 Community Support Package, what can residents, businesses and visitors expect to see in the first 12 months?

The projects and initiatives set to begin by the end of the next financial year include:

• Upgrades to, and replacement of, play equipment at the McCrae Drive Playground, at Ron Dine Reserve; Macarthur Park; Yandel'Ora Reserve; Tredinnick Park in Harrington Park; and Royal George Drive playground in Harrington Park;
• External cleaning or the Camden Senior Citizens Community Centre building;
• Building and roof repairs and internal finishes at Camden Sports Club and Ron Dine Reserve Clubhouse;
• Building repairs and internal finishes to the amenities building at Jack Nash Reserve;
• General playground upgrade and renewal works at Pomaderris Reserve in Mount Annan, Glenlee Reserve in Narellan Vale and Parkside Reserve in Currans Hill;
• The installation of shade sails to improve existing parks and playgrounds, with locations to be confirmed;
• The extension of the walking track at Camden’s Bicentennial Equestrian Park;
• Renewal works, painting and improved access at Nugget Beams Reserve, Narellan Vale;
• General renewal works at Birriwa Reserve in Mount Annan, Liquidamber Reserve in Narellan Vale and Fairfax Oval in Harrington Park;
• Carparking upgrades and renewal works to the amenities building at Rotary Cowpasture Reserve in Camden;
• Improvements to the grandstand, amenities and seating at Onslow Oval, Camden;
• Kitchen renewal and upgrades to the amenities building at Wandarrah Reserve, Mount Annan;
• The installation of fencing at Macquarie Grove Reserve, Kirkham;
• The installation of informal parking by sealing along Thow Place, Nash Place and Kitching Way at Jack Nash Reserve, Currans Hill;
• Upgrades to the spa, sauna and steam area at Mount Annan Leisure Centre;
• Caravan effluent dump point and associated works, with location to be confirmed;
• Building and roof repairs, internal finishes and car park improvements at Camden RSL Youth Club;
• A virtual employment and education expo;
• A post-COVID Event Program, to get people out and about, use the area’s exciting spaces, connect friends and enjoy the signature events that everyone knows and loves, like TASTE;
• A Program of Activations to bring the Camden Town Centre, Oran Park Town Park and Birriwa Reserve to life with activities and events;
• Grants and financial assistance for the community, including Cultural Activation Grants, Sports Grants and Expanded Community Grants;
• The continued expansion of online library programs to increase accessibility;
• Outdoor Dining Acceleration in Camden Town Centre, where Council will undertake designs and pre-approval for all outdoor dining which will expedite the application and approval process;
• Camden Businesses Recovery marketing campaign, which will support local business; and
• Economic Review implementation, where recommendations from the Economic Development Review and Strategy will be implemented to improve Camden’s economy.

Mayor of Camden, Cr Theresa Fedeli, pointed residents, businesses and visitors to Council’s website for more information.

“With so much committed as part of the $113 million third stage, we understand the information might be a little hard to digest,” Cr Fedeli said.

“That’s why we’ve created a specific webpage on Council’s website that’s dedicated to explaining what’s on offer. We’ve separated it into six different categories – infrastructure, events, grants and financial assistance, local employment, programs and city beautification – so you can read more about what interests you. You’ll also be able to see when these projects will begin.

“I’m incredibly pleased with Stage Three. Council has made this commitment on top of our existing service delivery. This includes the $178 million Capital Works Program, as part of Council’s 2020-21 Budget which, in itself, delivers significant improvements and projects to the Camden area.

“We want to make our community proud, happy and secure, and we believe this package does a lot for this cause. We can all look forward to an exciting few years ahead.”

The recovery phase as a whole includes 65 projects and initiatives to be delivered across the next four years. With Stage Three focused on infrastructure; events; grants and financial assistance; local employment; programs; and city beautification, the economic impacts are estimated to be substantial. Economic modelling has determined Stage Three will:

• Raise output in Camden by between $174 million and $195 million over 2020-21 to 2024-25;
• Support between 355 and 437 new full-time equivalent jobs; and
• Contribute between $76.1 million and $89.4 million to Camden’s GRP.

For more information on Stage Three, including what the 65 projects are, visit www.camdenrecoverypackage.com.au

For more information on Council’s response to COVID-19, as well as what other support is available, visit camden.nsw.gov.au/covid-19-support