Northern Beaches Council has proposed installing outdoor gym equipment on the Manly and Dee Why beachfronts, with residents having until this Sunday to have their say – so are you pumped or should it be dumped?
The plan sees four unique ‘pods’ – featuring equipment designed for calisthenic and CrossFit workouts – lined across the grass area just north of North Steyne Surf Club in Manly. Two more similar designs are planned to be placed at James Meehan Reserve, Dee Why, just by the car park.
Council has urged residents to visit the Have Your Say page (all links at the end of the article), to voice opinions and feedback on the locations and examples of the equipment proposed to be installed.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the $330,000 project was exactly what the community asked for.
“The community told us they’d like access to more free and accessible outdoor exercise equipment,” Mayor Heins told Manly Observer in a statement.
“We have delivered this infrastructure in 13 locations across the Northern Beaches and are now consulting on additional stations at North Steyne and Dee Why. I encourage everyone interested to take the opportunity to have your say.”
The equipment is set to cater accessibility for a range of demographics and fitness levels and is supposed to minimise the visual interruption of the beach for the residents of North Steyne.
The proposal is budgeted in Council’s 7.12 Developers Contribution Plan 2024, which falls in line with the ‘Let’s Play – Open Space and Outdoor Recreation Strategy and Action Plan,’ adopted in 2022 following community input.
The strategy outlines how Council will manage Northern Beaches open spaces and outdoor recreational facilities over the next 15 years.
More than 300 comments for Manly and 200 comments for Dee Why have already been received on the project for and against. Council said has stated on its Your Say page that feedback on their Let’s Play!, our Open Space and Outdoor Recreation Strategy, “told us that you wanted free and accessible outdoor exercise equipment that supports public exercise and fitness opportunities.”
Social media commentary has been less supportive, with some residents also writing directly to Manly Observer to highlight their concerns. Manly resident Deborah Quinn wrote: “The space is already used by multiple sporting groups exercising outdoors for no cost or low cost. There are personal training groups (three licenses) individuals, joggers, running clubs, walkers, board clubs, bike riders and skateboarders.
“Apart from congestion, multiple safety issues, cost, the lack of need because of all the current fitness health and wellness activity, there is the serious compromise of the area’s natural beauty and aesthetic.”
We took the streets at Manly to ask for a random sample of community opinion.
“I’m not an advocate,” one Manly local told Manly Observer near the existing facilities at East Esplanade.
“I think the beach, there’s enough activity going on the beach. We’re already having to compete with events that are held there every single weekend.”
“But most people work out early, right?” Her friend added.
“It gives people opportunity to, you know, they may not financially be able to go to a gym, so it gives them opportunity to work out if they want.”
Another couple we caught coming out from a quick morning surf before work said they liked the idea but admitted to probably never using it.
“I don’t know if I’d use it,” the man said, “like we go to a gym anyway, but yeah, it would be good for people.”
The equipment will be accessible to a range of demographics and fitness levels and is meant to minimise the visual interruption of the beach for the residents of North Steyne.
The proposal is budgeted in Council’s 7.12 Developers Contribution Plan 2024, which falls in line with the ‘Let’s Play – Open Space and Outdoor Recreation Strategy and Action Plan,’ adopted in 2022 following community input.
The strategy outlines how Council will manage Northern Beaches open spaces and outdoor recreational facilities over the next 15 years.
Council said they will consider the feedback received from the community engagement process to determine what the next steps of the plan are with the final costs for each site depending on this result.
Any funds not spent with remain in the Development Contributions Plan or DCP.
The DCP is funded by a levy charged by Council on developments to help enhance, expand or improve local infrastructure. The estimated budget in the current plan for all public domain works is close to $14 million.
The Have Your Say page includes a five minute survey which asks for the public’s feedback on the location and examples of the proposed equipment and includes a further comments box at the end.
You can have your say about the equipment in Dee Why here and Manly here.
Pending the outcome from this consultation, we anticipate works to be carried out in Winter 2025 for completion in Spring 2025.
