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Project status
We have renewed the Mary MacKillop Reserve playground in Surrey Hills to improve the play experience for all children.
Construction started in April 2023 and was completed in October 2023.
Community consultation
We asked our community for feedback to help guide the renewal of the playground. We received responses from community members (including children) over 2 stages of consultation.
You can find out what our community told us, how their feedback shaped the final design, and view the final design on our Engage Boroondara Mary MacKillop Reserve playground renewal consultation page.
About the project
The new playground retained the castle theme from the previous playground and provides play opportunities for children of all ages.
Key features of the new playground
For older children, the new playground includes:
- a taller section of the castle-themed play unit with a climbing net and large tube slide
- refurbished swings with 2 strap seats
- monkey bars.
For younger children, the new playground includes:
- an improved toddler end of the castle play unit with a double slide, shop front and cubby play
- updated rockers
- updated swings with 2 toddler seats.
Other features of the new playground include:
- a netball hoop
- nature play.
See below images of the new playground.
Timeline
| When | Stage | Progress update |
|---|---|---|
| May to June 2022 | First stage of community consultation | We consulted our community to help inform the draft concept design for the playground renewal. |
| June to July 2022 | Second stage of community consultation | We asked our community for feedback on the draft concept design for the playground renewal. |
| Late 2022 | Final concept design released | We shared the final concept design for the new playground, which incorporates our community’s feedback. |
| April 2023 | Construction started | Construction of the new playground and tree works commenced. |
April 2023
| Tree roots discovered | The contractor found significant tree roots from the mature Monterey Pines around the reserve when they started works. We could not have found these roots without excavating the old playground. Some minor changes to the playground design were required to protect the mature tree roots. |
| October 2023 | Construction complete | Construction of the new playground was completed, and the playground reopened for the community to enjoy. |
More information
For more information about this project, contact our Capital Projects team on (03) 9278 4444 or [email protected].