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We’ve redeveloped Hays Paddock Playground in Kew East due to its age and condition. 

Project status

This playground upgrade is complete.

An official opening event was held on Saturday 17 August 2024.

Community consultation

We asked our community for feedback to help guide the renewal of the playground. We received over 260 responses from community members (including children) over 2 stages of consultation. We also received feedback from leaders and experts in the disability sector. 

You can find out what our community told us, how their feedback shaped the final concept design, and view the final concept design on our Hays Paddock Playground renewal consultation page. 

About the project

The new playground continues to provide side-by-side play opportunities for all children. 

Key features of the new playground 

The playground design keeps the billabong theme and the timber look and feel our community told us was important to them.

Key features include:

  • a new accessible timber structure with bridges and ramps, activity panels, big and small slides, play opportunities underneath and a leaf-shaped shade structure 
  • a new, more challenging rope climb zone
  • a new, safer sand play area with accessible tables, animal sculpture and a digger
  • more rubber surfaces throughout the playground area to improve access for people of all abilities
  • a new sensory water zone with sculptural elements and accessible table
  • renewed swings with a variety of swing seats
  • new billabong animal mascots 
  • a new horizontal rope sway
  • a new bee rocker
  • musical chimes
  • several gathering and seating areas
  • billabong-themed sculptural items and artistic elements
  • more shade over the swings, sandpit and parts of the timber structure
  • a focus on the healthy existing and healthy mature trees in the playground
  • new and refreshed garden beds with native plants.

We have also kept some features from the existing playground. The following items are still safe for use:

  • retained spider rope net
  • retained circular carousel.

When the spider rope net and circular carousel reach the end of their useful life, we will remove these and the area will be returned to open space. This will make sure we comply with current authority regulations for the easement, which runs close to the western boundary.

We are also refreshing the current hammock swings based on community feedback.

Timber play structure renders

A birds-eye-view render of what the timber play structure might look like, looking down over the side of the structure with the slide, and showing more of the central challenging ropes climb area and the shaded activity panels area.
A render of what the timber play structure might look like, looking at the structure from above the seating area near the double slide, and showing the accessible ramp in the structure in use and the shaded areas over the slide and the billabong lookout.
A render of what the timber play structure might look like, looking at the structure from near the slide beside the activity panels area, and showing the multi-levels platform area and the accessible ramp in use, and also the multicoloured rubber floor surface below the structure.

Other works

We have upgraded part of the car park to meet the Australian Standards for accessible car parking and improve access for everyone. The upgrades will include replacement lighting to the access road, car park and sport pavilion.

We have also completed tree works in the area.

Timeline

DateProject stageProgress update
September 2021Playground auditWe completed a playground audit to understand the renewal works needed for the playground.
December 2021Initial consultation with original playground foundersWe consulted the original playground founders and disability sector experts to help guide the draft concept design.
Early 2022First stage of community consultationWe consulted our community to help inform the draft concept design for the playground renewal. 
Mid 2022Second stage of community consultation We asked our community for feedback on the draft concept design for the playground renewal. 
March 2023Final concept design releasedWe shared the final concept design for the new playground, which incorporates our community’s feedback.
April 2023Council awards contractWe awarded the contract for the playground renewal works at a Coucil meeting in late April 2023.
Mid 2023Construction startsStarted construction of the new playground, car park upgrades and tree works. 
August 2024Construction completeConstruction of the new playground was completed in August 2024.

More information

To receive updates about this project, visit our Hays Paddock Playground renewal consultation page and select ‘Follow’ at the top of the page.

For more information about construction, contact our Civil Projects Team on (03) 9278 4444 or [email protected].

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