Arrr me mateys worth the wait

PIRATE PARK REVAMP
Work to upgrade Noosaville’s popular Pirate Playground will begin next month with a boatload of new fun for local and visiting children on offer.
The major upgrade includes three open-air slides and a tunnel slide, climbing walls, a flying fox, monkey bars, interactive panels, a large climbing net and a swing basket.
Noosa Council Project Officer Dallas Bickley said thousands of children visited the Gympie Terrace park annually, and the new-look playground would offer them greater enjoyment.
“The existing liberty swing will stay as an important feature of the new-look playground,” he said.
Works will begin on 27 April and the park will be closed and fenced off for approximately five weeks while the new playground is built.
All work will be undertaken Monday to Friday only.
“Council appreciates parents’ patience during construction. The new-look playground will be worth the wait,” Mr Bickley said.
TOP GONG FOR COUNCIL HIGH-ACHIEVER
Noosa Council Procurement and Fleet Manager Phil Parkman has beaten nominees from across Queensland to take out a prized local government award.
Mr Parkman received one of four 2015 Government Procurement Professionals Awards recognising his work on the Noosa de-amalgamation project team and for Noosa Council since 1 January 2014.
Council’s Corporate Services Director, Michael Shave, said Mr Parkman was a deserving winner, with the award an acknowledgement of Mr Parkman’s hard work during the de-amalgamation process.
“It also recognises Phil’s role in ensuring Noosa Council received its required share of fleet and plant from the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to ensure services to Noosa continued seamlessly from 1 January 2014,” Mr Shave said.
“Phil is a high achiever whose work in drafting and implementing Noosa Council’s new vehicle use policy has helped save the organisation more than $500,000 annually.
“Phil is highly-respected in the local government sector and he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his role having worked for three local councils over a period of more than 30 years.”
The winners were announced at a formal presentation ahead of the 2015 Government Procurement Conference in Brisbane on Monday night.
The Government Procurement Professionals Awards celebrate local government sector employees who make a significant contribution through their work.
GROYNE BATTLE
Noosa Council will install geotextile sand bag groynes along the Noosa River foreshore in a bid to curb erosion and restore Munna Point Beach.
Noosa Councillor Frank Pardon said tenders closed next week for the work, which includes the installation of three geo-fabric groynes and three geo-fabric ‘scour mattresses’ on the river bed.
“The groynes are designed to trap the sand on the foreshore to assist in rebuilding the profile of the beach,” he said.
Cr Pardon said Council had lodged applications with the state government to install the structures and commence a sand replenishment program.
“With the tenders closing next week we should be ready to go as soon as we get the green light,” he said.
“This is a trial project, similar to when we trialled the sand shifter to restore the dunes on Main Beach.
“That project proved very successful and we’ll be hoping for similar success with this work at Munna Point, but we are heading into the unknown.”
Council installed temporary fencing along part of the shoreline late last year to improve safety while staff investigated a solution to the erosion, caused by severe weather.