A MAJOR step towards the long-awaited completion of the new $1m nature play area in Millicent was taken on Friday when the new 10-metre slide was delivered to the Domain nature area by Millicent engineering contractor J&M Shanks Engineering.
The Ridge Terrace project costing $955,000 has been developed over many months by Wattle Range Council and engineering services director Peter Halton.
Now the steel slide is in place, Mr Halton said council would work towards completing the final landscape elements and additional structure to join it to the cubby house.
He said the final step of the project was an auditor sign-off, which proved difficult at this stage.
“The State Government’s border restrictions are preventing the independent consultant required to be able to come from Victoria,” Mr Halton said.
“This is a specialised field of work and we have been unable to replace them with a South Australian equivalent. It should be noted however that a SA-based consultant was engaged for the design of the play space.
“This is a very exciting project for the entire Wattle Range Council region with funds secured from both Federal and State government in the form of Building Our Future funding of $400,000 from the Federal Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development and $268,000 from SA’s Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure through a Planning and Development Fund grant.
“Council’s contribution to the project will amount to $287,000.”
In other Domain-related news, Wattle Range Council has again appointed local contractor J&M Shanks Engineering for the construction of the replacement bridge and signage will be installed on site to advise of the new location.
Consultation has occurred with representatives of the Millicent Croquet Club on the siting of the new bridge over the main town drain.
In addition, council has also requested four artists prepare models for a marker statement to be installed as part of the Domain development.
These will be put out for public consultation later this year before any decision by the council.
