The Murrumbateman Playground Project Committee sat on Monday night, 16 October, for a meeting regarding $750,000 as an election promise in 2022 from the current government Minister Kristy McBain.
The project was championed by a local resident who is now a Yass Valley Councillor – Kristen Butler. The funding is for all-abilities playground with play and fitness equipment, where everyone can have a go.
Cr Butler also ensured that Yass Council’s 2022/26 Delivery Program included the construction of a Level 1 playground on Council managed land in Murrumbateman with delivery timing expected to be in 2023/24. Council is also holding some funds in reserve for a playground.
The MCA Working Group on Recreational Facilities has bought together community and sporting groups to focus upon what wider recreation facilities, including a major playground, are needed for Murrumbateman. To help the work of Council to determine a location for a Level 1 playground, the Working Group did a cost-benefit analysis of potential sites. More work is to be done to ensure proper community consultation for the selection of a location and a design.
Since the progress earlier in the year with a survey collating 379 community responses as to what locals want in a family friendly playground, the committee sat on Monday night to discuss further action.
Council has allocated $200 000 in the 23/24 Operational Plan for the site selection, community consultation, concept plans and detailed designs for the Murrumbateman Category 1 Playground.
A request for quotation has been prepared for the development of a new all abilities playground in Murrumbateman. The proposed project stages include site selection, drafting a concept plan and report, and reviewing detailed designs.
The three listed and most likely locations of the Murrumbateman Playground include Murrumbateman Recreation Ground, Murrumbateman Old School House, or New green field site.
Development of three concepts for an all abilities playground for the selected site including preliminary staging plans and costings. Please note that not all three options may go out to community consultation. Development of the detailed designs and procurement documentation to allow Council to tender the project and is to include a staging plan and project costings.
The Murrumbateman Playground project has now been years in the planning, with Councillors, committee members and the community alike keen to see construction started on the project in the not-too-distant future.
Tim Warren
