Have Your Say on Play

Child & Family Services

Golden Plains Shire Council has developed its Draft Play Space Strategy 2019-2029 and is seeking community feedback to ensure a strong strategic plan that strengthens and supports active play in Golden Plains.

At its Ordinary Meeting on 27 August, Council endorsed the Draft Play Space Strategy to be put on exhibition for public comment from 28 August to 25 September. All feedback will be considered and the final Play Space Strategy will presented to Council for adoption.

The Draft Play Space Strategy 2019-2029 will inform Council’s policy and planning frameworks and the development and delivery of outdoor play infrastructure and services. The plan defines Council’s vision and objectives for the Shire’s 47 play space including associated skate and BMX facilities; and supports the provision of play spaces that meet the needs and expectations of our community. The development of the Draft Strategy was funded by Council and a grant from Sport and Recreation Victoria.

Key directions of the Draft Play Space Strategy 2019-2029 include:

  • Improve the quality, accessibility, diversity, amenity and play and environmental value of play spaces in Golden Plains Shire.
  • Increase the current budget for play space renewal and capital development in-line with the above recommendations and introduce amore regular program of inspections and maintenance for play spaces, especially skate and BMX facilities.
  • Strategically redevelop eight key Township parks for play, as well as the Bannockburn Heart.
  • Consolidate a selection of smaller, older play spaces, concentrating greater investment at popular locations to deliver more play elements for all ages and better supporting infrastructure for the community.
  • Seek to improve the standard of future urban subdivisions to encourage play, access to nature, independent mobility and liveability
  • Seek funds to upgrade all skate parks to increase use and the size of concrete, halt potential undermining, control soil migration and extend opportunities and minimise conflicts between users.
  • Prepare a masterplan that addresses site constraints, opportunities and the minimum requirements of a play space, before major developments and improvements or replacement works.
  • Adopt guidelines for design requirements, locational criteria and what should be provided in each hierarchy of play space.
  • Improve the promotion of play spaces generally within the local community, using a variety of tools to provide information about accessibility, age suitability, context and features in play spaces.

In late 2018, Council conducted community consultation to gather resident opinions on play spaces, including face-to-face engagement sessions, a survey and interviews with local community coordinators. An assessment of all public play spaces also informed the Draft Strategy.

Key findings of the community survey include:

  • 36% of respondents rated “Improve playgrounds” and 20% rated “More play equipment” as the priorities to creating better play spaces.
  • Top responses for ‘Importance of specific play elements’ were “Play elements for multiple age groups” with 95%, followed “Nature/garden areas to play on” with 85%.
  • For ‘Most important improvement Council could make to existing play spaces’, the top response was “Provide a greater diversity of play equipment to meet the needs of all age groups and encourage parents/care givers to play with children.”

To have your say on the Draft Play Space Strategy 2019-2029, click here 

 

 

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