Kingston Council Draft Playground Strategy
The following AGRA notice was displayed for a number of weeks at the shopping centre from the 3rd of May with photos and plans for of all existing Aspendale Gardens playgrounds.
Most residents are aware that council's draft playground strategy has been available for study at council offices, council service centres, libraries and the City of Kingston website for a number of weeks. The definition of a Playground is that it includes play equipment.
There are 112 playgrounds in Kingston not including Braeside Park. Some areas have little or no play equipment including parts of Carrum, Bonbeach and areas of Parkdale while for example Dingley has 17 playgrounds. Council's study has considered future demand for play equipment throughout the city taking into account age group demographics forecast out to 2013. The study is comprehensive and far reaching and confirms that Aspendale Gardens has one of the highest numbers of children per head of population in all age groups.
The study will result in some new playgrounds being built while others will be improved. See photographs of each existing Aspendale Gardens playground including the proposed future plans for each playground. In addition playgrounds that are considered to be underused and coming to the end of their economic life will have equipment removed and not replaced. This will only happen after improvements to other playgrounds have been completed. There are 6 playgrounds within Kingston City planned to be phased out including the Amott Reserve Playground in Aspendale Gardens. Refer to the map on this display board. The Amott Reserve Playground is estimated to have about 10 to 15 years of use left before its economic lifetime runs out. At that point community consultation will take place.
Consideration is also being given to upgrading or improving existing playgrounds throughout Kingston which includes the five playgrounds to be retained within Aspendale Gardens. Refer to the individual two page summaries including photographs on this noticeboard. Council have stated that no resulting open spaces will be sold in fact some community based alternative uses may be considered.
This is a draft strategy looking ahead say ten years and is open for public consultation. If you wish to have a say about the draft strategy you are encouraged to complete a community feedback form (on the AGRA display post box) and post into the display box for AGRA to submit to Council on your behalf or to post direct to Council by the 14th of May.
You can also view volume 1 of Council's Playground Strategy on the website at www.kingston.vic.gov.au . Volume 1 contains the municipal overview, statistics, maps, design principles and a summary of the reports findings and recommendations. You can also contact Steve Perumal at Council on 9581 4377 for further information.
As always AGRA recommend that residents take an interest in their community needs.
Ken Carney, President. Aspendale Gardens Residents Association, Inc 3/5/2010
Earlier AGRA also sent out a special Newsletter to local residents likely to be affected by the long term plan to close down Amott Court Playground. A steering sub committee has been formed and some members attended a meeting at council. The following report from that meeting was delivered to local residents.
Report from COK Community Workshop Meeting held at Council on Thursday 29th April. Reference proposal by COK to close down the Amott Court Playground at the end of its economic lifespan.
Present:- COK; Steve Perumal Co-ordinator Park Projects & Design Environment Department, Mark Juler Environmental Manager, Councillor Lewis Dundas and Councillor Rosemary West (part). AGRA president and local residents Kirri van Haaster, Craig Stewart and Frank Yako attended the meeting. Various questions were asked relating to Councils plan to remove the play equipment from Amott Reserve.
To summarise the key points, Council explained that Amott Reserve playground is one of four playgrounds on the eastern side of Wells Road. These include Winners Circle playground, Amott Reserve playground, Palm Grove playground and Royal Palms playground. The first three are in close proximity to each other and council proposes that when the play equipment in Amott Reserve comes to the end of its economic life it be removed and replaced with additional play equipment at Winners Circle and Palm Grove playgrounds. Council explained that all four playgrounds are recent constructions and that the expected remaining life of Amott Reserve playground is between 10 to 15 years. Therefore the proposal to remove the play equipment from Amott Reserve will not come up for final consideration for 10 to 15 years. It was explained that notices would be sent to all local residents at that time advising of the proposal and that a community meeting would be held so that residents will be able to have their voice heard on the plan at that time well before any final decisions are made.
Council explained that if they were planning these playgrounds today Amott Reserve would not be considered for installation of play equipment because of its close proximity to Winners Circle and Palm Grove playgrounds. Also no houses overlook the playground which makes it a child security risk. Council believe that it would be better to improve the facilities at Winners Circle and Palm Grove which have been identified in the Playground Strategy as needing improvement and to make these into more exciting and interesting playgrounds catering to a wider age range of children. Overall maintenance costs would reduce.
Council explained that should the play equipment be removed, the Reserve would be retained as a park and it is possible that alternative uses such as a bicycle circuit or exercise facility could be installed.
The Aspendale Gardens residents at the meeting expressed their desire to retain the play equipment and their belief that this need is unlikely to change over time as new families move into the area with young children. Distance to the other playgrounds is considered an issue. This is supported by a large number of residents who have sent emails to AGRA expressing their reasons and desire to maintain the playground in the long term.
It was agreed that the three residents in attendance at the meeting will form an AGRA Amott Reserve Sub Committee.
The local community can have input into the Playground Strategy up to mid May and it was agreed that we circulate a special local AGRA Newsletter (this document) to update on the meeting with council and to give local residents and playground users the opportunity to place your views on record at Council before any decisions are made about the fate of the Amott Reserve play equipment.
We ask residents who want to inform council of their views on the Draft Playground Strategy and the plan for Amott Reserve Playground to complete the questionnaire on the back of this Newsletter and either post to AGRA C/o Ken Carney 23 Lorenzo Way Aspendale Gardens 3195 or place in the yellow AGRA Display Box at the shopping centre or post direct to Steve Perumal at council. AGRA will collate any replies received and forward to Council on the 14th May.
Many residents have written direct to council however many replied direct to AGRA and these emails and paper contributions have been sent to Council in confidence with all earlier resident communications for Councils information and future use.