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Wagga Wagga City Council has announced it will install fencing at all of its regional and suburban level playgrounds as part of its revised Playground Strategy 2024-2044.

The strategy, adopted at the most recent Ordinary Meeting of Council, includes 17 recommendations covering a range of actions required to be implemented to achieve the aims of the strategy.

Advising that said the public exhibition of the revised draft Playground Strategy in November and December 2023 resulted in 50 written submissions being received, the Council’s Recreation Coordinator, Joshua Walsh explained “we were pleased to see the community get involved in helping to shape this important strategy, which guides all aspects of Council’s playground management for the next two decades.

“One of the key themes of the feedback received during the submission period centred on more fencing for playgrounds.

“We’ve listened to what the community had to say and added a recommendation for the installation of playground fencing at all Regional and Suburban level playgrounds.

The implementation of this recommendation would cover 10 playgrounds in total, at an estimated cost of $300,000. It is proposed these projects are delivered in a staged approach with grant funding sought to fund the associated costs.

The playgrounds are at Apex Park, the Botanic Gardens, Bedervale, Chambers Park, Forest Hill, Glenfield Park Oval, Henwood Park, Riverside Precinct and Webb Park - all in Wagga Wagga - and Paddy Osborne Park in Tarcutta.

Other key themes of the public submissions were construction of a water/splash park, increasing the amount of shade at playgrounds, more toddler friendly areas and more barbecue/picnic areas.

Walsh added “the strategy includes a recommendation that a water play/splash park be included in the planning for the Bolton Park Masterplan.

“Staff have been working towards realising this project by submitting applications for grant funding.

“We also have six recommendations which directly relate to improving shade coverage at existing playgrounds and ensuring it’s integrated in the planning of future play spaces.

“Wagga Wagga is a growing regional city, and we want to ensure our play spaces will meet the needs of the community now and into the future.”

As of July 2024, Council has 25 playgrounds with sails; seven of which have been installed since an audit of the shade provision was completed in 2022. A further five playgrounds have funding confirmed and plans for construction are in progress.

Images: Wagga Wagga City Council Recreation Coordinator Joshua Walsh (top) and the Paddy Osbourne Park Playground in Tarcutta - one of the playgrounds to be fenced (below).

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