Construction of Portarlington’s new play space to start this winter

WG LITTLE Reserve in Portarlington will soon be home to the biggest – some say the best – playground on the northern Bellarine.

Construction of the Portarlington & Drysdale Community Bank Play Space at WG Little Reserve is set to begin in winter and will replace the aged existing playground.

The playground, designed by local landscape architects Mexted Rimmer, will feature play attractions for a wide range of ages including swings, rockers, spinners and a flying fox.

Art installations and play sculptures in a coastal environment theme will complement play zones to incorporate a dry river bed and sheoak forest.

It will also incorporate natural play spaces using logs from the Monterey Cypress felled in the area for safety reasons last April.

Grown-ups do not miss out with adult fitness stations designed to keep the whole family active, and when everybody needs a rest there will be upgraded picnic facilities.

A primary partnership between Bellarine Bayside and the Portarlington & Drysdale Community Bank branches has provided the majority of the funding for the playground.

The City of Greater Geelong and a range of local organisations have also provided invaluable funding support, including the Portarlington-Drysdale Lions Club, Mussel Festival, the Port Arts Network and the National Celtic Festival.

Bellarine Bayside chief executive officer John Nankervis said he approached local Bendigo Bank branches to offer a partnership in this important community project and was delighted when they accepted to be the major funding partner.

Senior Branch Manager at the Portarlington & Drysdale Community Bank branches of Bendigo Bank, Shae Hunt, said the project really fitted into their community support and youth focus, and that they couldn’t be happier to support this significant new community facility.

The Portarlington-Drysdale Lions Club did not hesitate when offered the opportunity to be involved, and the City of Greater Geelong has also acknowledged the important role the playground has in the community and have provided invaluable assistance.

Extensive community consultation has been a large part of the project, with local children informing many aspects of the final playground design.

“We were impressed with how seriously these young people researched it,” Mr Nankervis said.

Local families are invited to stop by the site to check out the concept design notice board located in the nearby information shelter.

“Everyone involved in this project is looking forward to presenting the community with a new, improved playground,” Mr Nankervis said.

“We couldn’t be happier with the state of play in this playground right now.”