Bass Coast Council – New Playgrounds

Safe Play Australia delivered three new playgrounds for Bass Coast Shire Council, opening across Wonthaggi and Phillip Island. Strongs Reserve, Rodney Court Park, and Jaycee Picnic Reserve each received their own distinct play space – from a ninja course and warped wall to a covered slide and climbing net – tailored to its own community and setting.

The Brief

Bass Coast Shire Council set out to refresh three local playgrounds within one coordinated program, spanning diverse locations from Wonthaggi to Phillip Island.

Each reserve needed a play space suited to its own setting: a leafy residential reserve, an established local park, and a beachside picnic ground with full visitor facilities. Each area is unique, and needed a customised approach for each site rather than a single, repeated design dropped in three times.

Design Response

Safe Play always approaches the design of our playgrounds to suit the specific location, rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach. These three sites received that same treatment, despite being part of the same program of work.

At Strongs Reserve, greens and natural tones tie the new equipment into the surrounding leafy residential reserve – the main play tower reminiscent of a tree house. Rodney Court Park saw a blue palette chosen, to complement the play equipment already on site.

At Jaycee Picnic Reserve, we built in a challenging ninja course – complete with a warped wall of course – to give older kids a reason to keep coming back to this beachside park. There also a basket swing, regular swing set and thrilling spinner for younger visitors, which complements and enhances an exisiting play structure that remains in place. The reserve sees heavy use, particularly in peak summer and at holiday times, and is well equipped with parking, water fountain and toilet block on site. These additions will make it an even more attractive place for families, tourists and the community to gather – and the addition of equipment tailored for older kids takes the park to the next level.

Outcome

All three playgrounds have just opened to the Bass Coast community, giving families and visitors in Wonthaggi and on Phillip Island three brand new places to play, explore, and enjoy. Between them, there’s the full play mix: a big slide, a full ninja course, open-ended role play, climbing, spinners and swings. The result caters to little ones and big kids alike, across three very different local settings.

All three locations received Australian made equipment – manufactured in Melbourne, Victoria. Particularly in seaside locations like Ventnor, it’s important that the equipment installed is built tough for Australian conditions. We’re proud to support local manufacturing, and the Bass Coast community can have confidence that their playground will create lasting memories for years to come.

Design & Spec Notes

• Strongs Reserve, Wonthaggi: huge covered slide, monkey bars, spinner, swings, shop and activity panels, fire pole, climbing net. Green and natural tones to match the surrounding reserve.
• Rodney Court Park, Wonthaggi: spinner pole, slide, climbing net, poms for balancing, fire pole. Blue palette to complement existing on-site equipment.
• Jaycee Picnic Reserve, Ventnor: ninja course with warped wall and ninja steps, basket swing, spinner, climbing nets, monkey bars, fire pole.

Location: Wonthaggi and Ventnor, Phillip Island on the Bass Coast, Victoria