Adelaide: Construction begins on new park for Playford
Construction of a new town park with a swag of community facilities will begin this month at Playford Alive.
Located on the corner of Peachey Road and The Parkway at Munno Para, the 1.3 hectare, $5 million park will feature two playgrounds, a waterplay area, skate park with plaza area, amphitheatre with stage, picnic facilities and a contemplative garden.
Minister for Housing and Urban Development John Rau said once completed, the park will be a feature of the Playford Alive urban renewal project and is expected to be completed next year.
“The Playford Alive town park was designed with the input of the community and will become an asset not just for local residents but for the wider region,” he said.
“Playford Alive has always been much more than a housing development – it is about transforming a community and the new town park is another step towards that ambition.”
Mr Rau said to coincide with the town park contract, Renewal SA is searching for builders to develop prime land overlooking the town park.
“There are a number of sites fronting the town park that would be suitable for two or three-storey terraces,” he said.
“Builders will be selected by expression of interest to develop house and land packages for the sites.”
Mr Rau said Adelaide-based company Landscape Construction Services (LCS Landscapes) has been appointed by Renewal SA to build the new park.
Jon Gee, Member for Napier, has toured the development and today marked the official start of construction with a turning of the sod ceremony.
“This investment in the public realm will enhance the vibrant local community and draw visitors from across the north,” he said.
LCS Landscapes Chief Executive Officer Roger Wood said the town park was an exciting project and would become a community asset.
“The Playford Alive Town Park provides an exciting challenge for LCS Landscapes to deliver an important community asset,” Mr Wood said.
“A number of new jobs will be created from this project and will directly assist in retaining local employment and ensuring economic benefits remain within our state.”
“We look forward to building this iconic project on time and to a high quality.”
The town park will include:
- Two playgrounds (one for children aged 0-4, and one for children aged 4-10)
- A waterplay area (all ages)
- Amphitheatre with stage
- Skate park/youth plaza
- A contemplative garden
- Community picnic facilities
- An entry plaza
- The City of Playford’s Stretton Centre
The town park will now also be home to the City of Playford’s Stretton Centre, which will include a community centre, the Stretton Research Centre, public library, training facilities, and a café. The centre is being developed by the City of Playford, which is contributing $700,000 towards the costs of the town park to ensure that the Stretton Centre is integrated into the new town park, and includes funding for car parking.
The City of Playford’s contribution comes from funding the council received from the Federal Government for the Stretton Centre.
About Playford Alive
In February 2006 the State Government announced a $1 billion rejuvenation of Adelaide’s outer northern suburbs. The Playford Alive urban renewal project involves the regeneration of the Peachey Belt (Davoren Park and Smithfield Plains) and the development of broadacre land in Munno Para and Andrews Farm currently under the control of Renewal SA. Renewal SA is the lead developer for the delivery of the project, in collaboration with the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, the City of Playford and the community. The Playford Alive urban renewal is expected to run for 15 years with the development of more than 9,000 new homes and population growth from 13,000 to more than 40,000 people.
Source: News Release Deputy Premier John Rau, 12 June 2014