Council ‘swing’ money to play space improvements

One of the Cooloola Coast’s most utilised play spaces will receive a suite of improvements over the next four weeks. Improvements to Tin Can Bay’s Les Lee Park are part of Council’s Parks Capital Improvements Project.

Five existing shelters will be replaced with three larger shelters. The new shelters are designed to cater for groups of families, friends and community organisations under the one roof. The two larger shelters will be 8m x 5m to allow for two settings and a double plate barbecue under one roof, and the third shelter will be 6m x 5m, with no barbecue.

The placement of the shelters allows for future improvements, include a widened pedestrian and cycle path which is an extension of the path improvements along Toolara Esplanade.

Other works include the replacement of two double plate barbecue cabinets and new park furniture including wheelchair accessible tables.

The above works complete the furniture, barbecue and shelter replacement programs in the 2018- 2019 Parks Capital Improvements programs. These programs also included replacement of three table settings on the Brisbane Road side of Lake Alford Park, three settings at Dickinson Park in Goomeri, and barbeque replacements at Dickinson Park in Goomeri. A replacement barbecue at Kilkivan Lions Park will be installed in the near future.

Council had budgeted $50,000 for the barbeque replacement, $60,000 for the park furniture renewal and $100,000 for the shelter replacements.

Infrastructure services portfolio Councillor Bob Leitch said it was “money put directly back into the community.” “Our parks are incredibly important to the fabric of our region,” Cr Leitch said. “They are used by thousands of our residents and their families as well as visitors. “The improvements to these spaces will provide a fresh, usable and visually appealing element the community can enjoy,” Cr Leitch said.