Eurobodalla Shire Council will fence and upgrade two popular playgrounds in Narooma and Moruya over the next month or so, it says to make them safe and inclusive for kids of all ages and abilities.
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At Narooma’s Rotary Park near the town wharf, the council crews will be onsite from Monday, replacing the timber picnic set and shelter with new accessible aluminium tables and benches, adding a bigger shade shelter and replacing the single barbecue with two new electric models.
The upgrade will also include an aluminium fence around the perimetre of the playground.
While the playground is temporarily off limits for two weeks, the timber uprights on the equipment will be checked and oiled. An extra accessible picnic set and shelter plus two park benches will be installed inside the fence to complete the upgrade, a council spokesperson said.
Not everyone is happy about the fencing at Rotary Park.
Narooma parent Garth Heathcote regularly uses the park and playground and is worried about a fence blocking views. He also wondered why there was not any public consultation and whether any trees would be cut down to make way for the fence.
“I just think that a big ugly fence will ruin the park and an area that many tourists use,” Mr Heathcote said. “I have had Christmas at the barbecue tables and having a big fence in front of your view now does not sound appealing.”
The council spokesperson said no trees would be removed and council crews would be planting some low shrubs and groundcovers to landscape around the playground area.
The project was taken to the community in the 2016-17 Operational Plan and the Disability Inclusion Action Plan and the fence was fulfilling the council’s commitment to have one fenced playground in each of the shire’s major centres, she said.
Meanwhile at Gundary Oval in Moruya, the existing playground equipment will be removed this week. The new playground area will almost double in size and include new swings, balance and climbing equipment, diggers, slides and a hammock, a council spokesperson said.
New pathways and decking will be installed inside the fence, along with two accessible picnic sets and shelters. Trees and groundcovers will finish off the new area. The playground area will be cordoned off for the duration of the work.
Fencing at both playgrounds will be black aluminium pool-style, with childproof gates.
“The fencing and playground equipment renewal builds on the council’s work at Corrigans inclusive playground in Batehaven and fulfils a commitment for a fenced playground in each of the shire’s major centres,” the spokesperson said.