Project updates

Project details

Mackey Park is a large multi-purposed public open space with sportsgrounds on the northern bank of Cooks River. The park is the home ground of the Marrickville Football Club since 1958 and is also the headquarter of the Croquet NSW. The park also accommodates multiple sports clubs including the NSW River Canoe Club, the Cooks River Croquet Club, the Concordia Club, and Marrickville Cricket Club.

The sportsgrounds are used for soccer in winter and cricket in summer. There is a 3m wide shared path along the Cooks River connecting Cooks River Foreshore to Richardson’s Crescent. Other facilities in the park include a children’s playground, BBQ and sheltered picnic settings, a wetland, a public car park, and public toilets.

At its meeting on Tuesday 9 May 2023, Council endorsed the draft Mackey Park Plan of Management and Master Plan for public exhibition.

We are inviting you to provide your feedback on how we propose to care for and manage this open space for the next ten years.

Project stages

  • Timeline item 1 - complete

    Initial engagement period

    Open for comment

  • Timeline item 2 - complete

    Creating the Plan of Management and Master Plan

    Community comments and input from other stakeholders will be used to along with research and expert advice.

  • Timeline item 3 - complete

    Approval required from State Government

  • Timeline item 4 - complete

    Public Exhibition of draft plans

    Everyone is invited to have their say on the drafts. Have we got it right?

  • Timeline item 5 - complete

    Reviewing feedback

    We are reviewing all feedback received during the public exhibition which will be consolidated into an Engagement Outcomes Report. All those who provided feedback will be notified.

  • Timeline item 6 - complete

    Decision by Council

    Final drafts are prepared for decision by Council.

  • Timeline item 7 - active

    Park improvements

    The park is progressively upgraded over the 10 years using the priority schedule outlined in the plans.

During September 2022 we asked you about this open space. Your feedback and input from other stakeholders were used along with research and expert advice to create the draft Plan of Management and Master Plan.

Click to view the initial engagement for Mackey Park

  • Plan of Management is a guiding framework which directs the future vision, planning, management and use of the park. It informs the development of the park over the next ten years.
  • Master Plan is a design report outlining the actions required for improvement, it guides the physical upgrade of the site over the next ten years. It does this by suggesting how the strategies set out in the Plan of Management can be translated into specific site improvements and upgrades.

A Plan of Management is a useful tool to provide strategic planning and governance for the management and use of land. The plans set out objectives and performance targets for community land and promote active land management.

Councils are required to develop plans of management under the Crown Land Management Act 2016 (the CLM Act) and under Local Government Act 1993 (LG Act)

New amenities block + plaza

  • Replace existing amenities with new facility oriented to invite entry to the park from Carrington Road; include planted screen to Richardsons Crescent for aesthetic and acoustic benefits and create plaza in front of amenities

Pocket parkland

  • Native planting and benches tucked around existing trees

Expanded play park

  • Increase the footprint of the play park, add shade structures, benches, extend footpath through play park, relocate the fence locally around the play area

Enhanced storm water solution

  • Reassess the storm water solution in this area; consider whether a naturalised Bio-retention basin would provide a more successful outcome

Wetland platform

  • Cantilevered deck over the wetland with bench seats and picnic benches

Cooks River naturalisation

  • Naturalise the riparian zone of Cooks River, as and when the banks are in need of repair

Concordia Club building upgraded or replaced

  • Upgrade or replace existing Concordia Club building to consolidate all services, new amenities and sports club office spaces within building footprint and create connections between sports ground and Cooks River

Pedestrian plaza

  • Accessible public plaza with benches, landscaped pockets, shared hard surface provides service access

Rationalised car parking

  • Resurface and remark car park area. Include turning circle, and retain access point to River Canoe Club

Redirected cycle path

  • At park entry point, separate cycle path from pedestrian path to alleviate pressure on existing ‘blind’ corner

Draft Plan of Management of Management

Details of the Master Plan

Click on the small arrows in the right corner to enlarge the image. Click on a circle to find out what's being proposed.

Map of the park showing numbers corresponding to the legend which describe the proposed improvements.

How to have your say?

Council invites you to provide feedback on the draft plans. You can provide feedback by:

  • Completing online submission form below
  • Mailing your submission to Inner West Council, PO Box 14, Petersham 2049, attention to Aaron Callaghan
  • Calling or emailing Aaron Callaghan on 02 9392 5634 or aaron.callaghan@innerwest.nsw.gov.au
  • Calling a FREE Interpreter or the National Relay Service, Monday to Friday between 9am-4pm and provide our phone number 02 9392 5634.
    • Free Interpreter call TIS National on 131 450
    • Voice relay call 1300 555 727
    • TTY call 133 677
    • SMS relay call 0423 677 767

Feedback closes on Tuesday 10 October 2023.

To provide feedback you will need to log in or create an account.

What happens next?

  • Initial engagement

    In August 2022 we asked you to share your vision for the park, how you use it and what you would like to keep or change.

    This stage is completed.

    Find out more about this stage 

  • Draft POM

    Council will write the draft Plan of Management based on the visions provided by the community


    This stage is completed

  • Public Exhibition

    The draft Plan of Management and Master Plan is now on public exhibition.

    This stage is completed

  • Council considers plans for adoption

    Council will consider all feedback and the draft Mackey Park Plan of Management and Master Plan may be amended accordingly prior to Council's final decision. Everyone who provided feedback will be notified.

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