» Plans of Management
» Provision Strategy
» Bushland and Fauna Rehabilitation Plans
» Street Tree Strategy
Open Space Plans of Management
Generic Plans
Bushland (1.52MB)
Neighbourhood Parks (332KB)
Playgrounds (377KB)
Sportsgrounds (167KB)
Significant Area and Geographical Plans
Bradfield Park (1.82MB)
Cremorne Reserve (702KB)
Foreshore Parks (432KB)
Forsyth Park (4.49MB)
North Sydney Oval (663KB)
Smoothey Park (131KB)
St Leonards Park (317KB)
St Thomas Rest Park (210KB)
Open space is an important component of the urban environment, providing opportunities for recreation and leisure. North Sydney's set of 12 Plans of Management provide clear guidelines for the effective short and long-term management of all parks and reserves owned by Council or under Council's control. They provide a framework within which managers can develop a balanced response to current opportunities and address future pressures. The Plans also ensure that the unique qualities of North Sydney's parks and reserves are conserved, and that future development is appropriate.
Plans of Management may deal with one particular park or reserve (Significant area Plans of Management), they may cover a number of similar use areas such as sportsgrounds or playgrounds (Generic Plans of Management) or they may cover a number of areas united by a common geographical feature, such as the harbour foreshore (Geographical Plans of Management). Council's Plans of Management are reviewed internally on a regular basis to assess implementation and performance. Every 5 years a new, updated Plan of Management is prepared and a major public review takes place. At this time broader policy and planning issues are updated.
Public comments regarding any of Council's Plans of Management may be submitted at any time to: council@northsydney.nsw.gov.au - new issues can be incorporated or existing actions amended when the relevant Plan of Management is next reviewed.
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Open Space Provision Strategy
Open Space Provision Strategy (5.56MB)
Council's Recreation Needs Study 2005 determined that North Sydney's network of parks, reserves and civic spaces is under ever-increasing pressure; factors including a lack of undeveloped land and the high cost of land in North Sydney mean that creating new opportunities to cater for the open space and recreational needs of a growing population presents a significant challenge.
The Open Space Provision Strategy (above), adopted in February 2009, provides a strategic framework within which opportunities to provide new open space and recreation areas can be assessed. Assessing potential sites using the Site Assessment Procedure contained in the Strategy will ensure that new land provided for open space meets the needs of the population, providing useful and usable open spaces in areas of population growth and low open space provision, in an economical and financially sustainable manner.
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Bushland and Fauna Rehabilitation Plans
In 1995 North Sydney Council adopted a generic Plan of Management for all Bushland Reserves which considered the broad issues involved and suggested a process to overcome and manage these threats.
In February and March 2002 a Bushland Rehabilitation Plan for Middle Harbour Catchment and a Fauna Rehabilitation Plan for Port Jackson Catchment were placed on exhibition for public comment.
These Plans set out to achieve more specific goals for each reserve by looking at individual issues within each of these areas and devising ways to limit the threats, conserve existing biodiversity and rehabilitate degraded areas.
The creation of these Plans was made possible by funding from Council's Environmental Levy.
Middle Harbour Catchment Bushland Rehabilitation Plan
Introduction (270KB)
Brightmore Reserve (582KB)
Wonga Road Reserve (359KB)
Primrose Park Bushland (759KB)
Mortlock Reserve (340KB)
Tunks Park Bushland (465KB)
Appendices & Bibliography (158KB)
Port Jackson Catchment Bushland Rehabilitation Plans
Introduction (115KB)
Smoothey Park Gore Cove Reserve (186KB)
Berry Island Reserve (148KB)
Badangi Reserve (205KB)
Balls Head Reserve (199KB)
Forsyth Park (90KB)
Cremorne Reserve (120KB)
Middle Harbour Fauna Rehabilitation Plans
Introduction - Section 1 & 2 (317KB)
Tunks Park Bushland (225KB)
Mortlock Reserve (193KB)
Primrose Park (291KB)
Brightmore Reserve (252KB)
Wonga Road Bushland (207KB)
Complete Document (1.43MB)
Port Jackson Catchment Fauna Rehabilitation Plan
Introduction (196KB)
Cremorne Point (441KB)
Forsyth Park (510KB)
Balls Head Reserve (327KB)
Berry Island Reserve (189KB)
Oyster Cove (490KB)
Smoothey Park / Gore Cove Bushland (562KB)
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Managing Trees in North Sydney
Managing Trees in North Sydney (174KB)
North Sydney Council maintains a huge network of public trees with over 17,000 street trees plus many more growing in parks and reserves. This brochure provides an overview of Council's policies and target maintenance levels.
Council's in-house tree maintenance team strives to ensure the health and longevity of the urban forest to secure ongoing amenity for the residents of North Sydney. The team inspects all street trees approximately every 18 months and carries out any necessary maintenance tasks as they are identified. Park trees are monitored by grounds staff who call in the tree maintenance team as required.
Street Tree Strategy 2006
Street Tree Strategy - introduction (2.68MB)
Street Tree Strategy - policy (3.83MB)
Street Tree Strategy - implementation & performance Matrix (164KB)
Street Tree Strategy - appendices (586KB)
In 1997 North Sydney Council recognised the importance of street trees to the overall amenity, aesthetics and environmental quality of the Council area by producing a detailed strategy for the management of this living resource - the Street Tree Strategy of 1997.
Since its implementation, many of the actions set out in the original strategy have been completed. Since this time, there have also been changes to broader policy, both within Council and externally. To ensure that Council's Street Tree Strategy remains a valuable management tool, the Street Tree Strategy has undergone a comprehensive review and has been modified and amended to reflect current industry best practice and the management goals of Council.
There have been considerable advances in tree research and knowledge over the past eight years including refinement of planting techniques for highly urbanised environments, and of particular significance, the adoption of the Urban Forest Policy by the Local Government Association. The Street Tree Strategy of 2006 (above) has attempted to incorporate these changes and findings into a practical and useful document that will guide North Sydney Council's tree management practices over the next 5-10 years. It has also taken into consideration today's litigious society and the important issue of risk management to provide Council with a balanced approach to providing a healthy and pleasant environment while ensuring the safety of persons and property.
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