Matt Hewson
Construction will soon begin on a multi-million dollar inclusive playspace at Rippleside Park, replacing the popular existing playground that opened in 2001.
Designed in consultation with the local community, the Rippleside Inclusive Playspace will include bespoke inclusive play equipment with sensory and artistic elements, Changing Places toilet facilities and accessible pathways.
The playspace is being funded by $2.1 million from the federal government, $1.7 million from Geelong council, $910,000 from the state government and a $300,000 contribution from Quintessential Equity.
At its Tuesday meeting this week the council awarded the construction contract to Orior Construct.
Deputy mayor Anthony Aitken said the project had seen more than its share of delays and challenges and was a story of “persistence and resilience”.
The original design was budgeted at $2.5 million, but COVID-19 hit just as community fundraising was set to begin. Once the pandemic abated the playspace’s price tag continued to blow out.
Cr Aitken thanked the City’s open space planner Kathryn Cotter and former executive director Robyn Stevens for their efforts to find funding to keep the project alive.
“(Thanks to) that resilience and persistence from Kathryn and Robyn… today we are appointing a tenderer for a $4.85 million project that will become a showcase in terms of access and inclusion in the play space,” Cr Aitken said.
“This play space, I am absolutely convinced, when it is built will be our most popular playground in Geelong, not just for people living with a disability, but for our broader able community as well too.”
Councillor Eddy Kontelj said local residents were “largely supportive” of the playspace but had concerns around increased use of the park.
“Already we have real challenges (at Rippleside Park) in terms of parking and traffic management,” Cr Kontelj said.
“Given the… suspected popularity of this new park, that will only escalate those challenges we already have.
“Council officers are aware of this and have taken some measures… however I believe this will continue to be a challenge and we need to be mindful and not dismissive of the community when they raise their concerns in the future.”
The new playspace is expected to be completed mid-2025.
