Planning work for new Port Fairy playground and skate park underway

Published on 20 February 2023

The first steps towards a new district level playground in Port Fairy have been taken and planning work is now underway.

Moyne Shire Council Mayor Cr Karen Foster said award winning landscape architect and play space designers Outlines had begun work on the Port Fairy Playground Strategy and would visit Port Fairy this week to view sites for a new play space and skate park.  

She said the skate park had been included because the intended site at George Dodds Reserve had been ruled out because of environmental and neighbourhood amenity issues.  

“Unfortunately we can’t proceed with the planned site for the skate park, but we will ensure community feedback provided and the designs previously drafted are considered as part of this new strategy,” Cr Foster said.

“We know it’s been a long wait for a new skate park and it’s frustrating, but these are circumstances beyond our control.

 “The first priority is the district level playground and skate park and we have taken important first steps in developing a fantastic play space for residents and visitors that caters for all ages and abilities.”

Cr Foster said the team from Outlines would be looking at three sites for a district level play space and skate park, while also viewing other sites for future smaller scale play spaces. 

“The three sites for the district level play space are Gardens Reserve, Russell Clark Reserve and the Southcombe Park precinct,” she said.

“Railway Place has been ruled out because of space constraints and the impact such a development would have on the popular markets and the area as a community gathering space.

“Further development on the existing playground at Martins Point has also been ruled out due to limitations with Heritage protected trees and restrictive development regulations under the Marine and Coastal Act.”

Cr Foster said once strategy work was complete, work will begin on draft concept designs for the new district level play space and skate park.

“We of course will seek the community’s ideas and suggestions when we reach the draft design stage,” she said.

“The strategy will look at all aspects of play spaces in Port Fairy and determine shortfalls in play experience based on age groups, abilities and accessibility.

“It will guide Council and the community on what is needed, the best locations and designs for future play spaces in the town.”