McLauchlan Road Reserve Playground

What's happening

We want everyone in our community to have the opportunity to play and to help achieve this, we want to ensure that everyone can access a playground within a reasonable distance from their home.

Our Active Recreation Facilities Plan identified Windsor Gardens as an area of playground under supply. The plan recommended the establishment of a new playground at McLauchlan Road Reserve.

During September and October 2023, we asked for your feedback on the proposal to establish a new playground at McLauchlan Road Reserve. Following the engagement results showing strong support for further investigation into a playground at this location, we have worked with a landscape architect to determine the best location for a playground at this site and have prepared a playground design. This project includes supporting amenities such as access paths, a picnic setting, seating and a fence around the playground perimeter.

The new McLauchlan Road Reserve playground has now been completed and is ready for our community to enjoy. View pictures of the completed playground and find out what we heard from our community by viewing the tabs below.

The new playground will incorporate the following features:

Cube play unit
Stainless steel slide
In-ground round trampoline
Double swing frame
Log seating circle
Kangaroo rocker
Carroussel
Log balance trail and steppers
Blackboard
Fence
Timber picnic setting

Example images of featured play equipment

colourful play equipment with spider climbing net and blue and orange tunnel slide

Climbing cube play unit with tunnel slide

What we asked

We asked our community if they supported the proposal to install a new playground McLauchlan Road Reserve and if yes, what play equipment they would like to have included.

How we asked

Letter to local residents
Email to Participate PAE members
Social media promotion
Park pop-up engagement

What we heard

Do you support the proposal?

Responses - 72
Yes - 47 people
Yes, but I have some concerns - 12 people
No - 13 people

Do you support the proposed location?

Responses - 72
Yes - 50 people
Yes, but I have some concerns - 7 people
No - 15 people

What play equipment would you like to see at this site?

We know that swings, slides and climbing equipment is essential. We asked participants what fourth play element they would like to see, if they supported the playground proposal. Two respondents voted twice.

Jumping - 28 votes
Balancing - 15 votes
Rocking - 7 votes
Spinning - 5 votes

Key comments, requests and concerns

Concerns regarding volume of traffic and speeding on McLauchlan Rd
Concerns regarding possible increased traffic and parking around playground
Requests for supporting amenities: bins, seating, drink fountain, lighting
Additional recreation elements e.g. soccer goals
Accessible play equipment and variety of play equipment
Shade - playground positioned under existing shade or provision of shade
Need for fencing to ensure safety near busy road
Retention of open space for ball sports and dog exercise
Questions regarding why other surrounding open spaces hadn't been considered for a new playground or playground upgrade. Other sites that were suggested were either being investigated for other future projects or outside of the 300m walking radius between playgrounds that we were looking to achieve. All existing playgrounds will continue to be maintained and replaced inline with our Parks and Gardens Asset Management Plan.

Decision and next steps

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 13 February 2024, Council resolved to support the recommendation to endorse Option #1 as the preferred location of the new playground at McLauchlan Road Reserve, and that funding of $350,000 for the construction of the new playground be referred to the 2024-2025 Draft Annual Budget Plan. The meeting agenda and minutes can be read in full on the City of PAE Website.

The Annual Business Plan 2024-25 was endorsed by Council at the Special Council Meeting held on 25 June 2024.

Our Traffic and Transport Team are considering formalised parking options on McLauchlan Rd that would provide additional parking opportunities and provide a natural slowing of traffic through the narrowing of this area of road.

Following the engagement results showing strong support for further investigation into a playground at this location, we have worked with a landscape architect to determine the best location for a playground at this site and have prepared a playground design. Construction of the new playground will start from Monday 28 October 2024.