By Tyler Wright
Upwey’s Wright Avenue Playspace is set to become a safe place for children to interact with nature and play on new equipment, with a $100,000 boost from the state government’s Growing Suburbs Fund.
The $200,000 project, funded equally through the Growing Suburbs Fund and Yarra Ranges Council will also see additional seating and the construction of a new accessible pathway.
Wright Avenue Playspace was identified in Yarra Ranges Council’s 2019 PlaySpace Plan as needing renewal, with pre-design consultation undertaken in August 2020 to establish how the play space could better meet community need.
The design is yet to be released, but consultation on the design to seek community feedback will take place in 2023 via an online survey.
“Unfortunately, Due to COVID 19, there have been some delays in the delivery of this project, but a preliminary design has been created and there will be a second round of consultation to seek community feedback of the design,” Yarra Ranges Council Director of Environment and Infrastructure Bill Millard said.
“This new play space will be designed to connect children with nature and offer new play opportunities for children of all ages and abilities,” Mr Millard said.
“We know that play is a fundamental component of health, wellbeing and community resilience and it is our aim that parks and playground’s in the Yarra Ranges provide children of all ages with new and fun equipment so they have the best opportunity to develop their cognitive skills, creative thinking, problem solving and imagination, and social skills.”
The Morrison Reserve Youth Activation project in Mount Evelyn will also receive $2.6 million from the Growing Suburbs Fund to deliver upgrades to the existing playground, improving amenity and accessibility by creating a new playspace and installing toilets.
Lilydale’s Queen Road renewal project will also receive an extra $100,000 to upgrade and renew its playspace.
Over eight years the government has invested $425 million in critical infrastructure projects in Melbourne’s diverse and fast-growing outer suburbs, supporting almost 350 projects and creating more than 11,300 jobs.
Councils supported by the government represent more than 31 per cent of Victoria’s population.
For more than two decades, their population growth has exceeded Victoria’s state average and that trend is expected to continue with around 900,000 additional residents forecast by 2036.
“It’s so important that we encourage community pride and participation, and these projects will enable more people across Cardinia and the Yarra Ranges to enjoy the facilities that they deserve – thank you to everyone who helped me to advocate for this funding and such a wonderful outcome,” member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said.
