Transformation of former Rockdale Bowling Club delivers new skate park and inclusive playground

A multi-million dollar transformation by Transport for NSW of the former Rockdale Bowling Club area into the Ador Reserve Precinct has created a recreational hub in Bayside that caters for both active and passive activities from sporting fields to playgrounds and BBQ areas.

The transformed precinct by Transport for NSW as part of the M6 Stage 1 project is now open for community use and includes a state-of-the art Skate Park, designed for scooters too and an all abilities adventure playground which will be popular with locals of all ages. 

The works were undertaken, and fully funded by the NSW State Government, as part of the M6 Stage 1 project that will connect President Avenue in Kogarah with the M8 motorway at Arncliffe via a four km tunnel.

A Bayside Council spokesperson advised “It would have taken Council years to be able to fund and construct facilities of this magnitude that can be enjoyed by Bayside residents and visitors.”

New features of the Ador Reserve Precinct include:

• New mid-sized grass field

• New inclusive playground with new equipment and BBQ area

• New skate park

• New and upgraded lighting for improved security

• Tree planting and landscaping

• New shared cyclist and pedestrian pathway

• New pedestrian bridge over Muddy Creek

• Upgrade to West Botany Street Bridge including a shared cyclist and pedestrian pathway

• Relocated car park with increased capacity

• New vehicle access off West Botany Street

The opening of Ador Reserve Precinct, McCarthy Reserve and Brighton Memorial Playing Fields marks the completion of community recreation facilities delivered by the M6 Stage 1 before construction of the tunnels commences early in 2022. 

Once construction of the M6 Stage 1 tunnel is completed, Transport for NSW will deliver new facilities and open space at Marsh Street in Arncliffe and Rockdale Bicentennial Park.   

This was a key requirement of planning approval, to offset the impacts of construction on community space.

The park name ‘Ador Reserve Precinct’ is only a temporary name as Bayside Council is changing the way places are named moving forward - encouraging and promoting recognition of Aboriginal place names and fostering the more frequent use of these names, particularly for new places. More information about this will be available in the coming weeks.

Images courtesy Bayside Council