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The Runway to receive a visual link to its war time history

Umina Community Group has received a grant from the Federal Government ‘Saluting Their Service’ Commemorative Grants Program for $5,112. The grant program is run by the Department of Veteran Affairs and aims to preserve Australia’s wartime heritage, and promote appreciation and understanding of the role that those who served have played in shaping the nation.

Four informational signs will be installed around The Runway park on Trafalgar avenue, each with different stories and pictures depicting the history of the WWII runway that existed in the middle of the Woy Woy Peninsula.

Julian Bowker from Umina Community Group said “The grant will allow us to complete the upgrade to The Runway park in Woy Woy. The final stage of the community driven upgrade of the park will be to implement four interpretive signs which explain the background to why an Airstrip existed in Umina.  Like the historical signs that have been installed along The Esplanade shared zone in Umina, we have also been working with Central Coast Council Library and local historians to use the photos they have to bring the stories of The Runway to life.”

“It is hoped by connecting our local youth to the wartime story behind The Runway, they will gain a better understanding of the war’s impact on Australia and how we view the broader topic of the sacrifices made by the generations before us.”

Welcome out of lockdown 2021!

Riding waves at Umina Beach

Umina Beach, lockdown is over and it is time to stretch your wings and enjoy our local community and environment. We have a number of free things for you to look into, to help kick start your new freedoms.

 

Guyangil Park Upgraded

The name of this park is pronounced ‘gwung – gill’.

In 2021 Guyangil Park was upgraded with UCG working with GUST and Central Coast Council. The park was replanted and the council have added pathways and nature play equipment in keeping with the native habitat theme.
Over 200 volunteer hours were spent during the weeding, planting and watering stages of the park. The emphasis was on planting to support the Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland species which are endangered.

We started with this uninviting old park

Added more plants

and lots of play items

 

New Dunecare Program

UCG is excited to announce an expanded Dunecare program with Central Coast Council. Through this initiative we will be able to have an even greater impact on the health of the dunes between Umina Beach and Ocean Beach SLSC’s.

Dunecare will now be running every Wednesday from 9am-11am (winter hours). We welcome new volunteers!  Meeting points will vary depending on the week in the month. We are eager to get weeding and planting and see the positive effects we can have on the dune system.
Beach entrance meeting points:

  • Ocean Beach Rd – 1st Wednesday of each month
  • Berith St – 2nd Wednesday of each month
  • South St – 3rd & 4th Wednesday of each month

UCG at Rotary Umina

Tony Winch and Peter Springett met with the members of Rotary Club of Umina Beach at Everglades Country Club last night (9/10/2019). During the meeting Tony presented the Umina Community Group story. The Rotarians were very impressed with what UCG had achieved in our five years of our existence. There is an opportunity for Umina Community Group and Rotary to work together.

Picture here of Tony (right) and Peter (left) with a Certificate of Appreciation presented by Rotary Club of Umina Beach, President Elect, Rouel Vergara.

 

FREE Family Movie Nights at Umina Beach

Central Coast Council has awarded Umina Community Group and Jasmine Greens Park Kiosk with community grant funding for free family movie nights.

The screenings follow on from a free movie night hosted by Jasmine Greens in September last year, which had over 300 attendees.

 

The upcoming screenings will be held in the Peninsula Recreation Precinct on the following dates:

  • Saturday October 19 – How to Train Your Dragon –
  • Saturday November 2- Madagascar 
  • Saturday December 7  – Wallace & Gromit
  • Saturday January 4th – Lilo & Stitch

Start times around 5:30pm for screening to begin just after sunset. (Daylight savings time)

We will be running a competition for the best dressed as a favourite character from each film and collecting gold coin donations to go towards future movie nights.

Jasmine Greens owner, Gabby Greyem said “The movie nights are all about lighting up the park at night and encouraging family fun activities after dark”.

Families are encouraged to bring picnics and picnic blankets and to set up early before the screening. Jasmine Greens Park Kiosk will be open, serving food and drinks.

“Umina Community Group is delighted to be able to work with Gabby from Jasmine Greens to bring free movie nights to the Precinct,” said Committee Member Jenn Rochford. “Thanks to Central Coast Council for its support. We hope the free movie nights become a regular feature on the Umina Beach calendar, providing enjoyment for local and visiting families,”

The organisers ask all attendees to respect our environment by minimising the use of plastics, recycling any waste responsibly and please take your rubbish with you or use the bins provided.

If you would like to volunteer for one of the upcoming events please email us at ParkAfterDar@uminacommunitygroup.com.au or PM us on our Facebook site here

My Community Funding – Please Vote

Looking for something you can do to help gain additional funding to improve Umina Beach? This will take just 5 minutes of your time, and will make a difference to Umina.

Follow the instructions below on how to vote for our local projects. The State Government MyCommunityProject Funding will go to the project with the most votes. So we need everyone to hop on board and vote for Umina!  Encourage your family, friends and neighbours to vote too.

There are two options for voting –  either at a Service NSW Centre or online. If you are 16 years or older and live in the Gosford Electorate you can vote (an activity for the whole family!). Voting closes August 15th, 2019.

The two UCG projects we’d like you to vote for are:

  • The Mixed Pathway at Umina Beach Surf Club to allow us to extend the Recreational Precinct access for prams, skaters, runners, walkers and bikes. More details here
  • Shade is landing at The Runway Park, for a large shade structure over the play equipment at The Runway park in Trafalgar Avenue. This will greatly extend the time children can safely and comfortably play at this popular local park. More Details here

The first option is to attend a Service NSW centre. Our closest centres are at Deepwater Plaza or Gosford, or any office near your work. The staff there will help you complete the voting. Remember to take your Medicare card with you and the name of our two projects.

The second option is to vote online. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Have your Medicare card on hand
Step 2: In your browser open the main web page  mycommunityproject.service.nsw.gov.au
Step 3: Click on “Log in” (at the top of the page). Then click on the “Log in / sign up” button.
Step 4:

    • If you have an account already, then use the Log In tab.
    • If you do not have an account, use the “Sign up” page

Step 5: Fill in your Medicare details and click on Next
Step 6: Enter your Suburb and click Next
Step 7: Find the three Umina Projects on the page and click on the star to shortlist them

    • Mixed Pathway at Umina Beach Surf Club
    • Shade is landing at The Runway Park
    • Umina SLSC Red & Yellow Patrol Tractor – Lifesaving

Step 8: After your third shortlist is clicked on, a popup appears, click on the Vote button
Step 9: Change the order of the projects using the up and down arrows

  • Please make one of these two projects first in your list (the order is important)
    • Mixed Pathway at Umina Beach Surf Club
    • Shade is landing at The Runway Park

Step 10: Click on Vote Now
Step 11: Click on Submit Vote

Additional how to vote instructions can be found here.

Funding for skate park, bmx and sports clubs

Today’s Pre-Budget announcement of $8.25 Million to upgrade facilities at Umina Recreation Hub is a major investment for this area. The Park is a focal point for the Umina Beach community, and this upgrade will create a multi-generational facility that will encourage outdoor activity, fitness, participation in sport and community spirit.
The funding from the Federal Government will expand and upgrade the sporting facilities of the Peninsular Recreational Precinct including:

  • Upgrade the existing Skate Park to provide facilities for all ages and skills in an area where there is shade, seating, drinking water fountains and lighting for spectators and skaters.
  • Build a modern BMX Pump Track that is fun and safe for all ages and abilities.
  • Provide a new outdoor Basketball court with an improved surface and lighting.
  • Provide increased parking and access to one of the finest beaches on the Central Coast.
  • Create walking tracks and static exercise stations for all generations.
  • BBQ and viewing areas for families to enjoy a day at the park.

This area will cater largely for growing children and teens whose passion for skating and the need for improved facilities was identified during the public consultation phase when over 2,500 signatures supported this initiative. Shade trees, drinking water, seating, refuse and recycling bins were all highlighted as significant components of the upgrade to make it family-friendly and comfortable.
The funding will also allow Umina Beach to expand the size and quality of sporting options
available to the community with:

  • A modern clubhouse for the Umina United Soccer Club, which boasts over 800 members, including 10 women’s teams. The new clubhouse will provide for all members, storage facilities to run improved training programs and a purposeful canteen.
  • A large integrated community facility to house the Southern Spirit Cricket team, the 150 players of the NRL Umina Bunnies Junior Football team, the Tennis Club, and a drop-in youth centre.
  • New practise Cricket Nets to serve the 200 players involved in the Southern Spirit club.
  • Outdoor BBQ facilities and seating to expand match day events and allow family members and visitors to engage with their sporting clubs.

Umina Beach has an active community lifestyle. The Umina Tennis Club share their courts with the soccer players in hosting 5-a-side matches and host birthday parties and boot camps with over 700 people a week using the facilities, a great example of community involvement.
We are grateful for the encouragement and support received from The Honourable Lucy Wicks MP Member for Robertson. She has been with us all the way on this long journey to find funding to bring our dream to a reality. We look forward to working closely will all the Clubs involved, with the Umina Beach community, and with the Central Coast Council.
Finally, our thanks to the people in Umina Beach. Their passion, support, input and
encouragement has been the driving force behind this endeavour. We welcome continued
community input.
Tony Winch of Umina Community Group comments “This project has demonstrated that when working together as a community with government support, we can envision projects that will enhance our everyday lives. It is this discussion with government that allows them to understand what is important to us, the Umina Beach community, and invest in truly local projects.”