The $1.3M Eaglehawk Regional Play Space which opened in September 2018, has won a Parks and Leisure Australia VIC/TAS Play Space award of excellence for a play space over $500,000.
For over 20 years Parks and Leisure Australia (PLA) has recognised excellence in the parks and leisure industry through its awards program. The PLA Awards of Excellence aim to promote and encourage best industry practice and recognise achievements and outstanding work of individuals and teams employed in the parks and leisure industry.
City of Greater Bendigo Director of Presentation and Assets Debbie Wood said the award was fantastic recognition of the creativity, planning, and community collaboration that went into developing and constructing the unique play space.
“We are absolutely delighted that PLA have acknowledged the City’s and the community’s efforts through this very prestigious and sought after award,” Ms Wood said.
“It’s a special play space with equipment that has never been seen in Greater Bendigo before that was designed by our City staff to cater to children of all ages and abilities.
“It’s also very unique to Eaglehawk and when viewed from above is shaped like a giant Eagle Hawk. It also features custom designed play equipment inspired by the famous Banjo Patterson poem Mulga Bill’s Bicycle which starts with the line Twas Mulga Bill from Eaglehawk that caught the cycling craze.
“The play space also features a wonderful butterfly themed junior play area called Where Angels Play which celebrates the life of the late Baby Zayden Veal Whitting whose family and friends helped raise funds towards the new space.
“The project was also well supported by a range of local service groups, businesses and organisations. It was this community support that enabled the City to include some exciting and distinctly Eaglehawk elements into the space.
“We are very proud of the play space which has since become one of Bendigo’s busiest and most well used and it’s great to see it’s been recognised by the PLA in this way.”
