The Corrigans Reserve inclusive playground will be officially opened at 10am on Saturday 4th March 2017 at Corrigans Reserve, Beach Road, Batehaven Attending the opening will be Ann Sudmalis MP, Federal Member for Gilmore, Andrew Constance MP, Member for Bega and NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes, members of Council’s Advisory Committee, and representatives from The Bay Push, Variety, and other organisations. Stage one of the project, now complete, includes colourful new play spaces and exciting equipment, such as a sandpit, handball court, carousel, spinners, see-saw, slide, swings and the return of the much-loved flying fox and the liberty swing. A curved exterior fence is being installed.
Future stages of the project will see more ocean-themed rubber softfall go in, along with a balancing challenge area and a welcoming entranceway designed by the community committee.
The $700,000 playground was part funded through two NSW Government grants, Council funds, and the fundraising efforts of The Bay Push.
Charles Stuart from The Bay Push says he's delighted by the size and quality of the park.
"It's wonderful to see it 'in real life' after all the planning,” he said. The Bay Push has already raised $250,000 for the playground equipment through fundraising efforts and is calling for corporate sponsors and community donations to buy more. At the February 14th Council meeting Rob Pollock raised the following urgent business in regards to the naming of the playground: "The Corrigans Inclusive Playground community project stage 1 has been completed. This has been a joint partnership between not-for-profit organisation, The Bay Push and Eurobodalla Shire Council. The playground was established to respond to the need for improvement of disability services in Batemans Bay after extensive public consultation with user groups and disability advocates and with funding contributions from NSW Department of Justice and the Variety Club of Australia. Acknowledgement of the significant contribution from the Variety Club of Australia is appropriate by way of naming the playground Variety Inclusive Playground." MOTION Councillor Pollock/Councillor Thomson THAT: 1. Council support in principle naming Corrigans Playground the Variety Inclusive Playground subject to approval of the Geographical Names Board, and 2. The naming of Variety Inclusive Playground be placed on public exhibition for a period of 28 days and, following the expiration of this period, any public submissions be presented back to Council for consideration to adopt.
Above: In December 2016, Eurobodalla's largest playground at Corrigans Reserve reopened even bigger and better and now catering for children of all abilities.
