Page 2506 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 31 July 2019

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condition of a play space, including repainting, replacing equipment and undertaking necessary repairs. In 2018, 16 playgrounds across Canberra received a refresh and new playgrounds are being constructed, with three new nature play spaces funded last year and an additional two funded from the budget this year to allow children an opportunity to connect with nature through play.

Following the play space review that was undertaken last year, five suburbs were identified for whole-of-suburb play space reviews to identify where a new playground could be facilitated. Following this year’s budget, funding has now been provided for the construction of new or upgraded play spaces in five suburbs: Torrens, Narrabundah, Richardson, Higgins and Waramanga.

Designs for the five new playgrounds are currently being finalised and we expect construction to begin soon. Undertaking these works will ensure that across the 500 playgrounds that we have in the ACT there is a diverse range of improved play experiences to give children of all ages fun, creative and engaging play opportunities.

MS CHEYNE: Minister, will all Canberra regions benefit from new and upgraded playgrounds?

MR STEEL: Yes; every part of Canberra will benefit from our upgrades to existing playgrounds, and every region in Canberra will also receive a new playground.

A new nature play space will be installed at Yerrabi Pond in Gungahlin and a new playground is being built in Gungahlin Place. I want to knowledge Suzanne Orr’s advocacy in relation to improvements there. Higgins in Belconnen will have a new playground constructed once design and public consultation have concluded, and a further six playgrounds in Belconnen will receive upgrades, including refreshes, through the budget and the play space forum allocation last year.

Central Canberra will see a new play space in Glebe Park, mentioned yesterday by Minister Stephen-Smith, a very popular destination for families already. Also, a new playground will be constructed in Narrabundah, with nine existing playgrounds in the central region to be refreshed.

Woden and Weston Creek stand to benefit from two new nature play spaces, with the Eddison Park nature play space under construction already, with a focus on supporting children with a disability from the local Malkara School in particular. There is also a new nature play space in Farrer. New playgrounds in Torrens and Waramanga are being provided, and there are upgrades to eight existing playgrounds in that region as well.

Children in Tuggeranong will be excited to learn that, along with a new playground in Richardson and a new nature play space at Kambah District Park, 12 playgrounds will be upgraded and funded. It is an exciting time to be a young Canberran.

MR PETTERSSON: Minister, when can we expect these upgrades to begin?


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