Golden Plains Shire OKs playground plans

SOME playgrounds in Golden Plains Shire are set for an overhaul following the approval of a new strategy by council.

The move came at the recent municipal meeting in Linton and will see towns across the Shire get new or upgraded playgrounds while 12 existing play spaces will be decommissioned.

Council received over 50 feedback submissions to a community consultation process on the issue from residents and groups.

“We need to respect those community groups that have made submissions,” said Cr Les Rowe. “If we don’t listen to them, and they’re the ones who are using these facilities, really we’re not working functionally as a council.”

On three planned sites slated for removal, Berringa Recreation Reserve, Shelford Recreation Reserve and Sutherlands Creek Tennis Club, the recommendation said that councillors asked municipal officers to undertake further feedback process which revealed those communities didn’t want the playgrounds removed.

Rokewood based Cr Helena Kirby was adamantly opposed to implementing the new policy on the grounds that communities should not lose playgrounds.

“I’m totally against to this report,” she said. “I attended the three public play space strategy [meetings] in the Shire and at no time was it ever mentioned about removing playgrounds, it was about improving them.

“Bannockburn has six playgrounds, including a $3 million investment at the Bannockburn Heart, if council can fund $1,233,500 for one playground, why can’t we support our small towns.”

The report that underpinned the new policy was prepared by Melbourne based @Leisure Planners.

Recommendations include that with the Bannockburn Heart opening, the playground at the town’s Lions Park be reviewed, and further development at the skatepark be looked at.

There’s also improvements set for the Enfield and Napoleons, and Rokewood Corindhap BMX tracks and playgrounds, a new central play space for Inverleigh, Teesdale and Smythesdale – while decommissioning the existing facilities in those towns, and improvements to the playgrounds in Cape Clear, Dereel, Lethbridge, Meredith, Haddon and Linton.

Towns or locations that are slated to eventually lose playground equipment include Berringa, Shelford, Sutherlands Creek, Scarsdale, Murgheboluc, Ross Creek and Garibaldi, with the recommendation to councillors suggesting a focus on upgrading nearby facilities.

To implement the new plan council will set aside $300,000 in next financial year’s budget. Also included in the policy are other works, including tree planting, at many of the sites.