Feedback sought on Anglesea playground’s future

THE Surf Coast Shire is seeking the community’s views about the future of Anglesea’s Coogoorah Park Playground, including its popular Inverlochy ship.

The playground was designed by Thomas Birrel and constructed in 1999, and is due for renewal.

The customised Inverlochy ship play element has been the signature attraction in the park, but needs to be replaced because rotting timber will make it unsafe in the future.

The shire says independent and internal audits have identified the majority of items in the playground are rated as being in poor condition.

A contributing factor is the acid sulphate soils in the area, as well as the coastal environment with salt-laden and moisture-heavy climatic conditions contributing to dry rot in timber assets.

In an update to the community, the shire says the Coogoorah Park Playground is presently safe to play on and the shire is maintaining the playground to safe standards.

“Quarterly audits are completed to ensure safety and highlight required maintenance,” the update stated.

“However, we have received advice that we need to replace the playground within the next year or it will be unsafe in the future.”

The existing Inverlochy ship will not be replaced with an identical replica in the playground’s renewal.

“In 2019, council engaged with park users and the community sentiment at the time was to keep the ship theme as the hero element,” the statement said.

“Council then went to tender seeking quotes from suppliers. All of the quotes were significantly over the available project budget, and with ships that did not match the theme or look of the current park landscape.

“We sought designs for a like-for-like replacement, unfortunately, the project budget will not enable a custom bespoke replacement.

“Due to the deteriorating condition of the ship, it is not possible to carefully remove the current ship, and then transport and rebuild elsewhere. It is unlikely that the ship could be transported without significant damage occurring.

“Specific Inverlochy-related items such as the existing signage, can be salvaged and re-used if desired by the community.”

The update stated there was an opportunity for the community to develop a new theme for the playground or keep the nautical theme in acknowledgement of the Inverlochy.

“Once we hear from the community, council will tender this project as a design and construct project, which will allow playground suppliers to submit proposals based on the community theme and available budget.”

The shire ran three consultation sessions at the playground last week and is inviting people to have their say before January 11, 2021.

For more information or to submit feedback, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/About-us/Your-Say/Coogoorah-Park-Playground.