PLAYGROUND DELIGHT: Construction on new $500,000 Rex Smeal Park children’s playground expected to ‘be completed by June’ – DSC

RECREATION

Michael Warren

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An artist's impression of how the new playground will look. Image: Submitted

Construction on a new $500,000 playground slated for Rex Smeal Park in Port Douglas is expected to get underway in two months and most likely “be completed by June” Douglas Shire Council told Newsport earlier today.

The announcement of Port’s new playground came late last year by DSC on the back of heavy lobbying by Newsport on behalf of Douglas Shire residents.

In a poll run by Newsport last November our readers determined the need to address the region's lack of recreational facilities, like playgrounds and splash parks as the number one priority they wanted Douglas Shire Council to immediately look into.

The new playground comes after Council decided last November not to pursue grant funding for an alternative new green ant playground.

That’s because Council said that specific project wouldn’t be completed until late this year and was dependent on securing grant funds through the Growing Regions Program grant.

“That wasn’t an acceptable timeline for myself and the other Councillors given the community need for a new playground,” Mayor Michael Kerr told Newsport.

As Newsport revealed late last year Mowbray playground supplier (AAA Playscapes) will deliver the project.

An artist’s impression of the playground revealed it’s likely to consist of, among other things, a rope mattress, a plastic wall climber, a rubber wall climber and a climbing wall.

Council said the equipment to start construction on the project was “expected to arrive at some stage next month”.

 

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