All community feedback was carefully reviewed, and some adjustments have been made to the designs based on community feedback.

The final design features two phases of works.

Phase 1 - September to December 2025

• A new decomposed granite path within the grassed area of Kiaora Reserve is included in the design to provide a path for pedestrians. This was part of the draft design. Crushed granite was chosen for the path instead of concrete to help protect the existing trees, especially their roots, and to minimise the overall impact on the natural environment.
• Tree pruning and landscaping works in Epping Reserve to enhance the overall appearance of the Reserve
• Three timber play elements in Kiaora Reserve
• Three timber play elements in Epping Reserve
• Note timber elements are designed for both informal play also as passive seating

Phase 2 - Late 2025 - Early 2026

• The paved area in Epping Reserve will be upgraded
• A new picnic table will replace the old table (in a new position)
• Central garden bed will be replanted with new plants
• Additional low-level plants will be planted as screening along both sides of Epping Reserve.

We received 12 submissions via Your Say Woollahra online form.

We received 4 submissions via email.

We also received in-person feedback at an on-site community pop-up on 16 April 2025.

Summary of feedback received:

There was strong support from the community for the interactive timber elements and the natural material pathway at Kiaora Reserve which were included in the draft plan.

We also received a number of requests for landscaping improvements to Epping Reserve.

All community feedback was carefully reviewed, and some adjustments have been made.

Based on community feedback we made the following changes to draft plan:

• Added tree pruning, additional screen planting and landscaping works in Epping Reserve
• Timer play elements to be designed as both balance logs and seating arrangements.
• The picnic table will be removed and replaced with an upgraded picnic table in a new location.

Epping Reserve is a small landscaped park on Epping Road Double bay which allows pedestrian access from Epping Road to Kiaora Road.

Kioara Reserve is a roadside reserve stretching along Kiaora Road in Double Bay, about 200 metres from Epping Reserve. It is a popular pedestrian access way for locals of all ages and presents an opportunity for informal seating and play elements.

Our Play Space Strategy identified a need for an additional eight play spaces in our local area, however, there is limited available open space to create new traditional play spaces. We found that we could fulfil the need for more play spaces by adding unobtrusive play elements to an open space or small park such as such as Epping Reserve, which encourage exploring and experiencing nature and surrounds.

Epping Reserve and Kiaora Reserve are precious green spaces which can be used for play.

The Woollahra Play Space Strategy identifies the community desire for nature play (or unstructured play) areas. These areas are intended to encourage more children into the outdoors and away from forms of technology that have negative impact on a child’s physical development.

The Strategy also identifies the need for play spaces for younger children age 0-6 years in close proximity to their homes, and identifies a need for a variety of play equipment areas which include imaginative natural play areas which offer alternative play elements to other parks in the local area which may have more traditional play equipment.

The proposed play elements for Epping Reserve and Kiaora Reserve are designed to help to meet these needs.

They are intended to provide local families with nearby informal play opportunities as well as providing an informal socialising space for older children and added interest for people who walk through the reserves.

This project was identified as a high priority in the Play Space Strategy and has received an allocation of $150,000 in Council’s budget.

It is proposed to use recycled tree trunks and branches from Council’s tree removals to create the play elements where possible. A number of pieces of timber have been kept aside for this purpose.

The tree trunks and branches will be reimagined to become artistic and playful objects for the Reserves.

The elements within the proposed design are designed to feel interconnected and include a variety of timber play for children to move through the play elements. The two Reserves are easily accessible from one another and present an opportunity to add elements which work together.