By Margaret Maccoll
Noosa Council are on a deadline to complete Cooroy’s Hinterland Adventure Playground by 31 December to retain the State Government’s $2.78 million funding toward the project.
Last week councillors voted at a Special Meeting to award Aspect Contractors a contract to design and build the playground within the time constraints at a cost of $3.76 million, which was almost a $1.6 million reduction from their initial tender of $5.349 million.
Council officers said after tenders came back higher than expected they had gone through 178 cost items to maintain the vision but keep to budget.
Cost savings have been made through changes to the design of items such as the amenities block which will be more traditional than first imagined and through the omission of art works.
Cr Karen Finzel said the inclusion of community art was an important factor in engaging the community and she would investigate alternate funding to include art.
“I can see there is scope for community art in a space like this,“ she said.Cr Frank Wilkie said there was capacity to include public art elements further down the track.
Noosa CEO Brett de Chastel said it was easier to obtain funding for art projects than for large-scale infrastructure projects.
He said the State Government were looking at where major council projects were up to and trying to claw money back. He said they were not as flexible as in the past and the playground would have a “fairly hard end date“ although they may show leniency if delays are caused by COVID-issues.
Mayor Clare Stewart raised the possibility of providing an amenities block that met the needs of people with high care needs, such as one recently built in the Sunshine Coast.
“No park across the shire meets their needs,“ she said.
Mr de Chastel said the option would be explored.
Current designs for the all-abilities playground include a double flying-fox, climbing tower with slide, climbing structures with swings, water play area, picnic shelters and an amenities block.
Council’s acting infrastructure services director Bryan O’Connor said Aspect Contractors had significant experience building similar projects. They have completed projects at Mary Cairncross Park in Maleny, Nambour Skate Park and Queens Park in Maryborough.
“They have a strong track record with Council, they are highly capable and well resourced,” he said.
Cr Stewart said the project design had stayed true to the original brief which was for an iconic, nature-based, all-abilities playground that would attract people to Cooroy and cater for locals too.
“Nature-based playgrounds not only offer children obvious exercise benefits but they encourage their social and emotional development, cultivate their imaginations and an appreciation of nature,” she said.
Council last week approved a Material Change of Use application for the Maple Street site, with conditions to address flooding concerns, including a flood warning system and fencing.
Construction of the parking area forms part of a separate tender process, which will be reported to Council for a decision shortly, Cr Stewart said.
