Following on from community consultation engagement opportunities during 5 May 2021 – 28 May 2021, Council has reviewed the draft concept design.

Thank you to those who provide feedback – it has helped to ensure that we deliver a project that is valued by the local community.

The feedback received outlined the community’s desire to include a traditional belt seat swing and a bucket seat toddler seat swing in the design, fencing the playground, the inclusion of a basketball hoop, flying fox, splash park and handball court and the inclusion of a public toilet. The project team met and discussed the feedback and amended the new detailed design to include a single two-swing (single and toddler seats).

The project team discussed fencing within the reserve to enclose the playground, which usually only occurs when the playspace was located in close proximity to a main/busy road. The playground is set back into the reserve and the existing fencing along Golf Links Avenue will be extended along Princess Street with a new gate. A natural landscaping barrier will also be implemented between the car park and the playspace.

Unfortunately as this playspace classification is a local playspace which caters for pre-schoolers and primary school aged children with an indicative duration of stay of one hour, the minimum standards and budget do not allow for the provision of a public toilet. However Council is developing a draft Public Toilet Strategy and this strategy will help inform future planning and identify priority sites for public toilets within Monash.

The project team also discussed the inclusion of a basketball hoop, flying fox, splash park and handball court, however these were not feasible at this reserve as the spatial constraints will not permit a design solution that will comply with Australian Standards for Playground Design (i.e. meet required safe distances for run-off and fall zones), make provision for tree protection zones and considerate of the close proximity to neighbouring residential properties.

Construction works are due to commence on this reserve in late 2021 / early 2022.