\nThe City has committed to funding the restoration of the Newcastle Oceans Baths and is\u00a0determined to see the facility become an asset the community can be proud of, while also ensuring they remain a public asset with free entry to swim all year round.
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![\"Newcastle-Ocean-Baths-(1).jpg\"](\"https:\/\/www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au\/getattachment\/Council\/News\/Latest-News\/Community-feedback-flows-for-Newcastle-Ocean-Baths\/Newcastle-Ocean-Baths-(1).jpg.aspx\" "\\"Newcastle-Ocean-Baths-(1).jpg\\"")
\u201cNot only have we reached out to the wider community through our online ideas wall which has received more than 5,000 page visits and 890 ideas entries, we have also conducted more than 200 face-to-face interviews and 900 telephone\u00a0polls\u00a0to better understand our community\u2019s vision for how this site will look and be used,\u201d City of Newcastle Community Engagement Coordinator Jamie Ferguson said.\n\u201cOpening up the conversation to all people in the community has been extremely beneficial and has resulted in a breadth of ideas and concepts to support future improvements. This diversity of views brings better outcomes for current and future users.\u201d
\nSome of the ideas received to date include shade structures, a community space available for hire, health and wellbeing facilities such as a gym, seating and change room upgrades and a kiosk or restaurant.
\nAny suggestion that plans for the future use of the site are predetermined is false.
\nMeanwhile, community consultation will be maintained through a Community Reference Group (CRG) before\u202finformation sessions and\u202fa public exhibition period to present concept plans\u202fto the\u202fbroader community. Councillors will then review and approve any restoration.
\n\u201cWe want to ensure this upgrade does justice to the heritage of this site and that our maintenance and upgrade program protects the site for another 50 years,\u201d Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
\n\u201cThe City of Newcastle seeks to form a Community Reference Group which has 50 percent stakeholder and user-group representation and 50 per cent of members selected from the broader community via\u00a0an\u00a0expressions of interest\u00a0process.
\n\u201cWe have received more than 80 applications from members of the public wanting to be a part of Community Reference Group so far, which is great to see. Our aim is to have people from all around Newcastle and from different walks of life forming this group.\u201d
\nExpressions of interest for the Newcastle Ocean Baths CRG close on Thursday 27 February.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"