Conjola Park: Community recovery association has revealed plans to connect fire-affected community to beach
The Conjola Park community is taking its future into its own hands as it starts to rebuilding after the New Year’s Eve bushfires, which saw holiday-makers and residents huddling on the beach.
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A community organisation is taking charge of ensuring Conjola Park rebuilds following the New Year’s Eve bushfire disaster which destroyed 89 homes.
The suburb, which borders the Princes Highway and the western shoreline of Conjola Lake, has just a small children’s playground and an old jetty near the Valley Drive boat ramp.
Conjola Community Recovery Association has revealed plans to link suburbs surrounding the lake and improve amenities after the Currowan fire forced residents and holidaymakers to huddle on Lake Conjola to escape the flames.
One priority the group is pushing for is a six-kilometre cycleway, connecting Conjola Park and Lake Conjola.
Other high priorities include a memorial garden and pier in tribute to Laurie Andrew and John Butler - who both died in the ferocious blaze - barbecue facilities, a toilet block and basketball court.
Shoalhaven Council, which supports the concept, is also currently seeking feedback on a playground rebuild at Hoylake Grave Reserve. The current playground was damaged on New Year’s Eve and has been closed since.
The council is now seeking the community’s feedback on the design, including asking residents if they would like the commemorative feature included.
Mayor Amanda Findley said she understood how important the playground was for Conjola Park and rebuilding the playground will help make the region stronger.
“I understand that the playground offers the opportunity for parents and their children to collaborate and engage with each other,” Cr Findley said in a statement.
“That is why it is vital we rebuild this playground as soon as possible, to ensure the community doesn’t lose this social hub in such an important time.”
Conjola Community Recovery Association president Shane Allen said the newly formed charity, which has managed the local, volunteer-led aid since the disaster, wanted to see meaningful infrastructure built in the area.
“I’ve got to say everyone I’ve spoken to, when you mention the bike path, they are 100 per cent for it,” he said.
While funds from the community have been used for purchases or given to bushfire-affected residents, the charity has been “attacking” corporate sponsors, with success, to support infrastructure plans, vice-president Peter Dunn said.
“Interestingly enough, what we found was the corporates were really happy to donate to a project like this,” Mr Dunn said.
“What we're talking about is some serious money and where is that money going to go?
“That's all for infrastructure stuff.”
The volunteer team has researched ideas in other communities previously impacted by bushfires and consulted community members.
“The community went ‘wow, let’s go for it, let’s start it now,” Mr Dunn said.
“What council said to us was the concept – they love it, this is a fantastic idea.”
Now the community organisation is ready to take the plans further. The council will be able to guide the group on path specifics as there is private land and national park land to navigate.
“For the majority, we want to keep it in the bush as much as we can, rather than having a concrete strip from here (Conjola Park) to here (beach)” Mr Allen said.
Mr Dunn said: “The masterplan has got to take that next step which allows council to input to where the cyclepath can go.
Almost three months after bushfires isolated the villages, destroying power supply and communications, the group of volunteers continue to fuel the rebuild.
They’re galvanised and recognise that issues may be forgotten in the wider-community if action is not taken over the next two to three years.
“We’re definitely here until this is done,” Mr Allen said. “This is why I want to strike now.”
As the COVID-19 pandemic spreads in NSW, restrictions on indoor hall use has forced the organisation to stop using the Lake Conjola Community Hall as its hub.
The virus won’t stop their work though. More than 20 regular volunteers are in the fire-affected communities acting as liaisons for the group or delivering aid when requested.
Coronavirus has affected their opportunities to meet with council planners and directors, but it just means contact will be through phone calls and emails.
“While we're all locked in doesn't stop the master plan being produced and we're about to press the button on that,” Mr Dunn said.
“We know at the end of this disaster, there is going to be a massive injection of funds to get people back up and running and who better to build this than the local tradespeople.”
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