Ground broken on stage two of Macarthur project

Work will begin on installing the long awaited splashpad water play area at Macathur’s Market Street Precinct this week.

Mayor Cr Ian Smith and representatives from the Macarthur Pool Community Committee broke ground on the project this morning and contractors will be on site for the next week completing preliminary works with installation of elements expected to begin next month.

Cr Smith said the work would take around six weeks to complete and would be ready for use early in the new year.

“This is going to be a fantastic addition to Macarthur’s recreation precinct and I’m sure will be a popular place for locals to cool off over the summer months,” he said.

“This summer the splashpad will only be accessible via the pool and open during its operating hours.

“But once the remainder of work is finished in the precinct, it will be accessible from the new play space outside of the pool’s hours.”

Cr Smith said once the splashpad was complete, work would begin on the new playground and multi court to complete the $1.6 million Market Street Revitalisation project.

“The new playground is going to feature the usual playground staples like swings and slides, but will also have nature based elements as well as all abilities equipment,” he said.

“It’s going to be fantastic and I think combined with the multicourt and splashpad will attract people from across the region.”

Cr Smith said the old playground would be donated to Rotary’s overseas recycled playground program.

“The current playground, while still safe, no longer meets the Australian Standards. That means it cannot be reinstalled anywhere else in Australia, because it would no longer be compliant,” he said

“But Rotary International have a fantastic program which takes safe and serviceable equipment, refurbishes it and sends it overseas to developing nations,” he said.

“The Macarthur playground will be then installed at school’s or in community on the African continent.

“Council has worked with the Rotary Club of Port Fairy to make this possible and we are looking forward seeing what joy it brings to the children in its new home.”

Cr Smith said the Macarthur Men’s Shed had also been involved in the project, refurbishing the reserve’s exiting park and picnic furniture to make it like new again.

“The furniture was in good structural condition, but just needed a bit of TLC, so we asked the Men’s Shed if they’d be interested in taking on the project,” he said.

“They have done a great job and the furniture is going to look great when it’s put back in place. I’m so pleased we have been able to support the Men’s Shed through this project.”

“Works completed so far include parking and road upgrades, new internal paths, landscaping, refurbishment of the exiting gazebo, BBQ shelter and toilet building, site preparation, drainage and other site works.

The $1.6 million revitalisation project was funded through a $480,000 allocation of Federal Government Local Roads and Community Infrastructure funding, $500,000 from Emergency Recovery Victoria, $300,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria and $300,000 from Council and Community contributions.

Mayor Cr Ian Smith, breaks ground on stage two of the Macarthur precinct project with members of the Pool Commitee and staff from Council's Project Managment Office.A design render of the splashpad