A new page for Dudley Reserve

The opening of a learner’s bicycle track at Dudley Page Reserve has helped improve local business turnover and the recreational domain in Dover Heights.

Peter Brown, owner of Dover Heights cafe, TrePani, said the track has been great for business, especially on Saturdays and Sundays. He said the space was “just perfect” with additional seating, shade and water facilities.

In 2006, Waverley Council outlined a Public Domain Improvements plan for the creation of local village centres, such as Glenayr Village, located at the corner of Glenayr Ave and Blair St in North Bondi.

Known as the Seven Ways intersection, this domain was the pilot project for Council’s ‘Looking Good’ initiative, involving a series of traffic management upgrades, footpath installations and urban design changes.

Councillor Leon Goltsman said Public Domain Improvements identified under-utilised local spaces and explored ways Council can make them more accessible.

“What we’ve been doing is we’ve been looking at ways to get the community involved, more so to give them a sense of ownership of a particular place within that particular village,” Mr Goltsman said.

“We’re taking an opportunity here that is … costing a lot to upkeep and maintain. By beautifying it and making it something that people want to come to, we [create] a huge win for the community.”

The Dover Heights bicycle track at Dudley Page Reserve was unveiled as part of Council’s Public Domain Improvements plan. The project has heralded the plantation of native grasses and shrubbery, additional seating and barbeque facilities, in addition to the implementation of a beginner’s bicycle track.

Mr Goltsman said the Dudley Page Reserve bicycle track provided much-needed local space for families.

“It eliminates the need to travel to Centennial or Sydney Park to access quality amenities,” he said.

Public Domain Improvements is an ongoing plan and fresh ideas are in demand. Councillor Miriam Guttman-Jones said the elderly needed to be included under any future plans.

“I would love to see the project invest in more park benches in Waverley side streets for elderly residents to utilise when they go walking,” she said.

The plan hopes to revamp the local landscape and subsequently increase community interaction within local spaces.