Why is Council consolidating the playgrounds at Eltham Place Reserve and Heathcote Sesquicentenary Park?

    Council has adopted a Play Strategy and Implementation Plan to improve play opportunities for our community. The strategy highlights the need for playgrounds to be fairly distributed across Sutherland Shire and calls for a local playground within 10 minutes’ walk from most homes. 

    We have carried out extensive analysis of the demographics, demand, growth, and development in Sutherland Shire. To cater for the needs of our community now and in the future, potential locations were identified for acquisition of land and creation of new playgrounds, service level changes, relocations and consolidations. 

    We provide 150 playgrounds in Sutherland Shire. It is not financially sustainable to provide new playgrounds in the areas they are needed, as well as carry out our playground renewal program. 

    The playground at Heathcote Sesquicentenary Park is at the end of its serviceable life. This provides an opportunity to review the suitability of a playground in this location. Given the lack of visibility and surveillance, we’re proposing to consolidate this playground with the playground 480m away at Eltham Place Reserve, which is due for renewal.

    Can the playground at Eltham Place Reserve be expanded if it's being renewed?

    The existing playground at Eltham Place Reserve is a local playground for short stays which focuses on play for a single age group. The renewed playground will also be a local playground meeting Council's requirements for this type of playground, but will have an increased range of play equipment catering to a wider range of ages (including climbing, sliding, and swinging elements) and shade.

    Can the playground at Heathcote Sesquicentenary Park stay as well as a renewed playground at Eltham Place Reserve?

    The playground at Sesquicentenary Park is at the end of its serviceable life. We have reviewed the suitability of the location, based on limited visibility and passive surveillance. Due to these reasons we’re proposing to consolidate this playground with the one at Eltham Place Reserve when it is renewed. This will allow us to better maintain and service this facility and other existing playgrounds into the future.