Originally Published June 28 2022
GUNBOWER’S smallest residents are rushing to the town’s new playground on an almost daily basis, giving it their giggle-filled approval.
The fence around the new Lions Park playground was removed recently, enabling youngsters to enjoy the new play space.
“When I was at the park, I was talking to a group of young mums who’s children were playing in the park,” Gunbower and District Development Group president Jeanette Cowan said.
“They were saying that the park is becoming a meeting place, an after-school activity for children, and people are utilising the facilities.
“The vintage tractor is due to be reinstated at the far end of the park in the coming weeks.
“And plans have already started for stage two – there are several things that are on the wish list, including a boardwalk and maybe a sand beach.”
The park is roaring to life, giving the former lacklustre space a new lease on life six years after the idea was first concepted.
Ms Cowan previously told the Gannawarra Times that she was excited for the transformation of a large area of the waterfront park, with an accessible canoe launch one of the highlights.
“There will be a new nature-based playground using non-Indigenous trees that have been cut down as part of the slide, balance beams and blocks,” Ms Cowan said.
“Indigenous trees will be replanted and there will be an all-abilities barbecue area too – fully accessible including for those with wheelchairs.
“They will be replanting and re-establishing natural vegetation and water plants in the creek to try to lessen the impact of weeds.”
The current toilet block will remain, but the rest of the current park will undergo substantial development to create a more open area looking out over the water, and featuring footpaths around the established native trees.
Humans won’t only benefit from this makeover, with local animals including platypus, native rats or rakali, antechinus and turtles set to have a new native wetland with the introduction of more Indigenous plant life.
“It’s so used, by locals and visitors, and the update will allow you to be right on the water,” Ms Cowan said.
The project also includes the construction of a fishing jetty with seating and fishing rod holders, a picnic shelter, a low level bridge crossing, accessible footpaths and supporting infrastructure such as irrigation, bins and a new flagpole.
