Kurrak Playground to get finishing touches

THE Kurrak Playground is nearly fully complete, with the Barwon Coast Committee of Management planning to put the finishing touches on the project at Ocean Grove Main Beach by the end of this month.

Located next to the The Dunes cafe, the playground for pre-school and lower primary-aged children celebrates Wadawurrung culture and the local environment.

Barwon Coast started planning for a new playground within the Ocean Grove Main Beach area in 2019.

“Kurrak” means sand in Wadawurrung language, and the playground will celebrate the many Wadawurrung seasons.

Construction of the play equipment at Kurrak Playground was completed in late December, and the playground opened for use at that time, but signs and artwork for the playground are yet to be completed.

Barwon Coast says it is working with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation on these elements and anticipates they will be finished in late Feburary, with an official opening anticipated to be held in March.

“In 2019 we conducted a community engagement process to help us locate and design the playground,” Barwon Coast communications and engagement manager Kate Wynn said.

“We received strong support for the playground to be built at Ocean Grove Main Beach and for it to feature accessible design and incorporate the local environment and First Nations’ culture.

“The final playground will be one of a kind. Through beautiful artworks and signs it will celebrate the seasonal movements of the Wadawurrung People, the Traditional Owners of the coast at Ocean Grove.

“This will provide an opportunity for children and their carers to learn and discover as they move throughout the playground.

“We want to again thank the local community for their assistance and patience and sincerely apologise for the delay in completing this long-awaited project.”