AN ambitious plan for an inclusive playground could move a step closer with Gunnedah Shire Council expected to settle on a location tomorrow.
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Council will consider a recommendation to choose Wolseley Park as the preferred location of the playground and vote whether to go ahead with a master planning review of the park.
Council will also look at setting aside $10,000 in the 2015-16 budget for development of a design for both the playground and the planning review.
Costs for such a park had been estimated at about $400,000, but a report to be considered by council noted a budget of between $200,000 and $300,000 “would provide a suitable quality inclusive playground facility”.
The report said a working group met at Wolseley Park in April this year to discuss the location of the playground.
“There was consensus that the Conadilly Street frontage of Wolseley Park would be a preferred location with a location within reasonable distance to toilets and with appropriate fencing,” the report states.
It did not specify whether the park would replace the playground already in place at Wolseley Park on the Conadilly Street side.
Gunnedah mum Ashley Bender first raised the need for a park accessible to children of all ages and abilities in late 2013.
Ms Bender suggested a playground through the Touched by Olivia Foundation, which has designed and assisted with parks across the country in memory of eight-month-old Olivia Perkins.
Olivia, the daughter of John and Justine Perkins, died from a rare illness in 2006.
A council delegation inspected the inclusive playground at Victoria Park, Dubbo in February 2014.
“Subsequently, council resolved to further anaylse the matter having regard to the type, design, location and funding options for an inclusive playground in Gunnedah and established a working group to progress these matters.
“The working group has met on three occasions and has determined that Wolseley Park is the preferred location for an inclusive playground.”
Council will consider the matter at its June meeting to be held in Mullaley tomorrow.