Draft Playground Strategy and Action Plan

The Draft Playground Strategy and Action Plan engagement closed 7 July 2014. It was adopted by Council on 26 August 2014 and relates to the Be the Future of Burnside Strategic Community Plan 2012-2025, “a range of high quality sport and recreational opportunities and facilities that foster healthy lifestyle pursuits.”

The Playground Strategy has undergone a desktop review to ensure the Strategy continues to provide a relevant and up to date strategic direction for the future provision and management of playgrounds within the City of Burnside. The adopted Strategy now refers to recent changes to the Australian Standards (where appropriate). Future works associated with the Playground Replacement Action Plan and ongoing maintenance of existing playground infrastructure will now have reference to those new Australian Standards.

The Strategy and associated Playground Replacement Action Plans will be amended during the life of the documents to reflect the recently adopted changes to Australian Standards AS 4685 Parts 1 to 6. Unless these changes impact on the principles within the Strategy, the documents will be updated without reference back to Council.

Future financial costs associated with the adoption of the Playground Replacement Action Plans will be considered as a normal part of future annual business planning cycle.

The review recommended that along with the Strategy document, a new Playground Replacement Action Plan 2014 – 2025 be developed.

Playground Replacement Action Plan

This new action plan comprises the ‘Priorities and Action Plan’ section from the original Strategy document. The new Action Plan will enable Council to update and reflect all upgrades and replacements as they occur, rather than waiting until the playground strategy is due to be reviewed again.

Other Changes

There are several minor changes to the strategy which include:

Updated Data

• Census data updated to 2011 numbers
• References to Council’s Strategic Plan “Be the Future of Burnside 2012-2025” have been updated
• New examples of well-designed playgrounds within the city have been added
• Hierarchy classifications updated for upgraded playground

Age Classification

Introduction of a new age classification for each playground to help prioritise future redevelopments and as a guide for responding to customer enquiries. The age classification was developed as part of Council’s Sport and Recreation Strategy last year.

Nature Play Space

The suitability and allowance of nature play spaces have been reviewed and redefined.

A ‘nature play space’ refers to a play space that provides children with access to a range of opportunities that reflect the natural world.

While specific areas have not been formally identified by the Council as ‘nature play’ areas there is anecdotal evidence of creek beds in reserves such as Bell Yett Reserve and Kensington Gardens Reserve being used by children to explore and build ‘cubbies’ from logs and branches.

It must be noted that developed nature play spaces require regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure they remain beneficial and safe.

Further investigation and community consultation is required before a nature play space within the City of Burnside is developed.

New Hierarchy Classification

Introduction of a new Hierarchy classification for “facility based playgrounds”. This takes into account playgrounds not based in reserves and parks such as those at the Burnside Swimming Centre.