Camp Shortland shifts gears from racetrack to recreation following community feedback
- intouch Magazine
- Oct 9
- 2 min read
Overwhelming community support for free and accessible active recreation at Camp Shortland is helping drive the design for the future of the popular coastal site.
More than 500 participants weighed in on what should stay as part of City of Newcastle’s staged remediation of the former Newcastle 500 track.
Community members were invited to share how they use Camp Shortland and whether temporary fitness, sport and play elements introduced in 2020 to activate the racetrack area between events should remain as part of the site’s permanent landscape.
City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said the consultation revealed clear priorities that will help guide the site’s design.
“The message from our community has been resoundingly clear, they want Camp Shortland to remain an accessible space for active recreation that welcomes people of all ages and abilities,” Mr Bath said.
“We’ve heard strong support for keeping the half basketball court and fitness equipment, along with suggestions to consolidate or relocate some of the exercise elements to achieve a better balance between active recreation and open green space.
“What’s particularly encouraging is the diversity of feedback, with 40 different suburbs represented, every age demographic from school-age to retirees, and more than 100 responses from beyond our local government area.
“This tells us Camp Shortland truly functions as a regional asset, not just a local park and is highly valued by the community as part of the broader regionally significant Foreshore Park precinct.”
The consultation also informed the community about planned upgrades to existing infrastructure including barbecues, seating and shelters, which will be incorporated into the final design to enhance the functionality and comfort of the space.
The feedback will be used to refine the final landscape plan for the staged remediation, which must balance social, environmental, technical and heritage requirements.
It will then be submitted to the NSW Department of Environment and Heritage for assessment. As Camp Shortland sits within the State Heritage-listed Coal River Precinct, any modifications require approval to ensure they preserve the area’s cultural and historical significance.
Mr Bath said the community would have another opportunity to review and provide feedback on the updated plan before it proceeds to final endorsement.
“Before we submit anything for final Heritage approval we’re committed to bringing the updated landscape plan back to the community for review,” Mr Bath said.
“We want residents to see how their feedback has shaped the design and have another opportunity to provide input.
“Our goal is to create a space that honours Camp Shortland’s heritage, serves our community’s wellbeing and can be enjoyed for generations to come. The feedback we’ve received gives us a strong foundation to achieve that outcome.”
For more information and to view the engagement reports, visit the Have Your Say section of City of Newcastle’s website.
