#GreatNewsThursday: Community selects six elements for new play structure at Jubilee Park, Avenel

A new play space in Avenel’s Jubilee Park will feature six elements selected by the community following an extensive engagement process.

The play structure will make up part of the new equipment which also includes swings, including an all-abilities swing, net swing, flying fox and two new play structures made up of many different elements.

Strathbogie Shire Council Mayor Cr Laura Binks said it was fantastic to hear from so many members of the Avenel community, particularly children, during the voting process.

“We attended the Avenel Market in February where we had an incredible response to our survey,” Cr Binks said.

“Many of the people who participated in the survey were a combination of parents and children who were actually playing in the play space on the day, so it was great to tap into these key users.”

Council staff conducted a pop-up session at the Avenel Market during February.

Cr Binks said Council also visited the Avenel Kindergarten and Avenel Primary School to conduct engagement sessions with students.

“The kindergarten children showed us their favourite elements by placing stickers on a sheet of paper displaying the options for each element,” she said.

“While the primary school students made the most of the opportunity to conduct a technology lesson with students scanning a QR code to take them to Council’s online survey at Share Strathbogie.”

Cr Binks said the online survey received almost 300 responses and the results showed clear winners for each element.

“Our community selected the Stepper Bridge, Fixed Hanging Rings, Scaling Wall, Wave Bridge, 1500 Fibreglass Slide and the Inclined Net Bridge which will be included into the final design,” she said.

Cr Binks reminded the community that there would also be six items removed from the current play space due to the fact they no longer meet safety regulations.

These items are: Galvanised Steel Play Unit, Combination Unit/Play Structure, Freestanding Slide, four Spring Rocker Horses and both sets of double swings.

The play space is also being enhanced thanks to the Avenel Jubilee Park committee and Avenel Active Inc. who were successful in securing a $50,000 government grant for shade sails to be installed over area.