COMMUNITY ASSETS & INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE – $5 MILLION & UNDER

MOUNT ALEXANDER SHIRE COUNCIL PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES TEAM

Stanley Park North Play Space

Back in 2016, Harcourt boasted more children per capita than any other township in Mount Alexander Shire. A key growth area in the Shire, the Harcourt population is forecast to increase 65 per cent over the next 15 years. This statistic highlighted the need to replace play equipment suited to the limited cohort of two-to-five-year-olds with an accessible, inclusive play space that would welcome both younger and older children. It is now a thriving, multi-generational community space attracting visitors and community members from families through to mountain bikers.

It can be difficult to ensure locally sourced expertise on projects of this size in rural areas. The provision of an innovative yet locally considered play space was made possible however thanks to the dedication of local experts involved in the project’s delivery. The project’s landscape architect was a Harcourt local, and their intimate local knowledge helped to guarantee the play space reflected the area’s local natural attributes.

With the creation of an attractive, vibrant community space in the centre of Harcourt being the ultimate objective of both Council and community, one of the project’s key ambitious aims was to create a play space that offered a different experience to those in neighbouring townships while showcasing the history of Harcourt. The engagement with local children was key in achieving this aim, with feedback resulting in unique attributes including apple boxes, a nod to Harcourt’s being the home of 40 per cent of Victoria’s farmed apples.

With the initial budget being insufficient, community leadership and strong project guidance by dedicated staff helped propel the project into fruition. Advocacy for additional funding resulted in grants from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and local banks along with free infrastructure additions from providers like Coliban Water. The since-funded project ultimately turned a disused open park space into a valued community hub.