Christmas has come early for children in Manilla, with a brand-new playground in Chaffey Park now complete in time for the upcoming school holidays.
The design for the playground was chosen by Manilla residents in March this year, with the community voting on their favourite option via an online poll. Our community engagement team also visited Manilla’s primary schools to allow the children to give their opinions on the elements included in the playground.
The new playground includes a four metre activity net, smaller climbing structure, rope spinner, four bay swing, car rocker, gears panel and play hut as well as a playpark system including a step bridge and two slides. In response to community feedback received, two additional inclusive swings were added to the winning design to ensure the new playground can be used by the whole community.
Peter Resch, Director Regional Services thanked the Manilla community for being so patient in waiting for the new playground despite significant COVID-19 related delays.
“It has been a challenging year for infrastructure projects right across the region, with Public Health Orders preventing the delivery of the playground equipment earlier this year”, he said. “We hope local families enjoy this fantastic new addition to Chaffey Park.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said the new playground is worth the wait for the Christmas Holidays.
“Playgrounds definitely didn’t look like this when I was kid but what a sight it is, I’m sure every kid in town can’t wait to try it out.”
“This playground shows the Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to delivering grass roots projects, right across New England,” Mr Joyce said.
The playground is the first project to be delivered as part of Tamworth Regional Council’s Chaffey Park master plan, which can be found at https://haveyoursay.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/chaffey-park-manilla-masterplan
The new Chaffey Park playground is one of the projects funded by the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. The Tamworth region has benefitted from $6 million in total spent improving local infrastructure so far under this program. In the first phase of funding, our region was allocated $2.65 million, with a further $3.41 million received under the program’s second phase. Council has also been allocated an additional $5.3 million under phase three of the program in the 2021 Federal Budget.