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3 August 2012 - The Bathers Way plan will go to Council on Tuesday 7 August. Unfortunately the Council staff have failed to listen to many of the concerns raised by PEP and other Bar Beach users in relation based on their recommendations to the Council members. More information is here.

18 June 2012 - The public comment process on the proposed changes to Bathers Way closed today. More info is here.

11 May 2012 - Today's Herald details the plan for Bather's Way, including some of the proposed changes for Bar Beach and Empire Park. The Council will decide next week if the plan should go on public display. The good news is that there is still a car park planned on Kilgour Cliff, but with reduced car parks and the addition of large trees. The Council's broader Bar Beach plan has also been updated to remove the proposed car park behind the Bowling Club which is good news for the many sporting and family groups who use it. The Council now plans to install angled parking along Bar Beach and Kilgour Avenues and large trees potentially creating hazards for hang gliders and loss of views along the streets near the beach. Community representatives have told the Council of their concerns in this regard.

29 January 2012 - Making Waves Feb 2012 edition: features a story on the proposed Council changes to Bar Beach, including making the soccer field behind the Bowlo into a car park and reducing Kilgour Clifftop car park. Check it out here. (It is a PDF so takes a minute to open - see page 7).

26 January 2012 - Newcastle Herald letters page: Kate Sherry, "Apparently 100 per cent of Empire Park skaters asked love their million-dollar skate park ("Bowled over by venue's success" Herald 21/1). That's hardly a surprise. And while residents' previous concerns are mentioned about antisocial behaviour at the skate park (legitimate, I think considering the problems Wallsend and Swansea skate parks are having), a perspective from non-users was not sought. The residents against the skate park were never concerned that users of the facility would cause problems. It is great to see so many young people being active and enjoying the place. But there is no doubt there has been antisocial behaviour at the skate park, including over the New Year period when idiots broke glass all over the skate park and hoons drove up to the park and carried on late into the night. There is also a cost the community in dealing with the many injuries the skate park has caused, including the boy who needed to be rescued recently from the bottom of the 10-foot bowl with suspected spinal injuries.