A MAKEOVER of a popular Beachport playground has been priced at $350,000.
New equipment is set to be installed at the Susan Wilson Memorial Playground by Wattle Range Council.
Council will apply for a $150,000 State Government grant and the ageing playground equipment will be renovated and sent to other playgrounds.
The staff recommendation to proceed with the project was strongly backed at a recent monthly council meeting.
Councillor Dale Price said it was a good opportunity, while Graham Slarks described the facility as “tired”.
“The playground is a hot spot for tourists,” Cr Slarks said.
The meeting recommended the $200,000 allocation be considered in the 2020/21 budget deliberations while a grant application for $150,000 will be made.
The Susan Wilson Memorial Playground is a regular destination for tourists and Limestone Coast residents with the provision of playground equipment, barbecue facilities, shelters, toilets, tables and benches.
Council engineering services director Peter Halton said a recent audit identified a number of the pieces of the playground equipment were at end of life.
Mr Halton said the seesaw and swing set had been condemned and the equipment was flagged off to stop public use.
An internal playground inspection found several pieces of play equipment required remedial work through general wear and tear and being subjected to the harsh coastal environment.
“The remedial work is estimated at up to $25,000 which could increase the equipment’s life span to five to eight years,” Mr Halton said.
“If nothing is done to these items, they will need to be removed due to potential injury to users.
“If the existing basket swing, carrousel and main play structure were relocated to another town away from the coastal environment, the play equipment could last much longer.
“It is anticipated as much as double the expected life expectancy being closer to 15 years.
“This would however require a replacement of the play equipment for this reserve with equipment better suited to the current environment.”
