Premier visits foreshore construction site

Premier Mark McGowan presented the Lotterywest grant and inspected construction works, which are close to completion at the Ridley Place Foreshore Playground which will be known as Karragarup Play Space.

The State Government, through Lotterywest, is supporting the Shire of Harvey with a $150,000 grant towards an interpretative play space as part of the Australind (Ridley Place) Foreshore development.

Karragarup means Place of Crabs, translated from the Wardandi Noongar language and it was selected as it recognises that the Leschenault Estuary provided crabs as an important food source for the Noongar people.

Karragarup Play Space will provide interactive play opportunities for all ages and abilities and is expected to increase community participation and awareness of the area’s natural and cultural heritage.

The play area will feature a large crab play structure,  divided into three spaces that represent the upper, middle and lower estuarine habitat units of the Leschenault Estuary and themed to celebrate the wide range of flora and aquatic fauna found in the area.

Shire President Paul Gillett said the unique crab play element would have a water misting feature and lighting around the structure which was a great drawcard for families to visit the area.

Cr Gillett said the project was in line with the aspirations of the Ridley Place Foreshore Master Plan, and harnessed the value attached to community spaces and the development of the new play area would increase the likelihood of more people joining in community life.

Australind Foreshore is the largest public open space on the Leschenault Estuary and is a major recreational resource for more than 14,000 residents of the greater Bunbury region.

The playground is set to be completed later this month and officially opened to the public by April 2020.