Play time as works complete

TWO new and upgraded playgrounds, of six planned for this year, in Golden Plains Shire have been officially opened.

Capital works were undertaken at Rokewood and Dereel and the local kids couldn’t be happier.

With play spaces allowed to remain open during the recent snap lockdown, six-year-old Ruby popped to Rokewood Recreation Reserve to check out the new equipment.

“It’s good,” she said. “I like that I’m allowed to play on it, and that swing over there is so fun!”

As part of the upgrades to Ruby’s hometown playground the Shire installed a new climbing cube, triple swing set with nest, replaced the soft-fall mulch and undertook subsurface drainage works.

In all the project cost $38,000 and was fully funded through the Shire’s playground renewal budget.

Just up the road in Dereel, the play space and surrounds at the back of the community hall received $56,000 worth of works.

There the swings were also replaced with new equipment including nests, a new slide was installed, and the climbing castle was re-stained, as well as new soft-fall, edging, and an access pathway added. Replacement of a nearby synthetic cricket pitch was also included in the works.

The Dereel upgrades came from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

A long-time champion of playgrounds across the Shire, mayor Cr Helena Kirby welcomed the completed capital works.

“It’s great to see both the Rokewood and Dereel playgrounds upgraded and open again for the community to enjoy,” she said.

The two most recent improvements are just the start of what’s to come as the Shire undertakes works at four more playgrounds with funding coming from the Federal Government.

Linton Recreation Reserve, Garibaldi Public Hall Reserve, Enfield Harrison Reserve, and Haddon Lions Park are all scheduled to be completed this year, with construction already underway at the Haddon site.

“The playgrounds [at Rokewood and Dereel] are looking great and will also give locals in Haddon, Linton, Garibaldi and Enfield a look at what will come later in the year for their playgrounds,” Cr Kirby said.

“Council’s 10-year play space strategy identified the playgrounds in these communities as requiring renewal to improve safety and provide better play spaces for local kids.

“Council is really excited to be able to deliver six playground upgrades this year, including five thanks to funding from the Australian Government.”