Playground works sliding in on time

WITH the new Lake Weeroona playground set to be unveiled next month, Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters has visited the site to check in on its development.

Construction began earlier this year on the $1.5 million project, with the majority of funding from the Federal Government and more than $300,000 from the City of Greater Bendigo.

Ms Chesters said play spaces, like the one on the way at Lake Weeroona, are an important asset for communities, especially adventurous children.

“They’re brilliant for families in terms of people being able to catch up and at the same time giving children that awesome outdoor play experience,” she said.

“Outdoor play is critical to development and this site will bring together the best of early childhood education, the best of play and also incorporate some of our beautiful Dja Dja Wurrung history.”

The new playground replaces the original structure, built in 1998, and was a key aspect of the municipality’s 2011 Lake Weeroona Master Plan.

Features include an all-inclusive play tower, alongside a water space, and Traditional Owner-created art installations.

Brian Westley, the municipality’s presentations and assets director, said the new playground will expand on the legacy of the old one.

“We’ve taken the opportunity to not just replace what [was] there but to actually make a bigger footprint, introduce some water-space elements, as well as making sure there’s adequate shade,” he said.

“The floods and the water have impacted a lot of our program, but we’ve been pretty lucky here. We’re still on track and really excited to be opening before school Christmas holidays start.

“There’s a lot of excitement. This is a play space that sees about 90,000 visitors every year.”