Kids’ projects miss out
Surf Coast communities angered by shire’s lack of funding
COMMUNITY groups have been left disappointed after failing to secure Surf Coast Shire Council financial backing for their major projects.
One of those was Torquay Kindergarten, which expressed frustration that a funding decision for an eight-yearold project was delayed again.
The proposed kindergarten redesign aims at promoting inclusivity, with new sand pits, cubby huts and edible gardens which are accessible for children using mobility devices.
The group said the project had stalled over the past few years, with 2015 landscape plans failing to gain council support, while volunteers who had invested time in planning had left the kinder community.
Torquay Kindergarten parents committee co-president Melanie Walsh said further delays are deeply frustrating for volunteers who had worked tirelessly on the project.
“The importance of this project has been handed over from committee to committee year after year, with planning and fundraising commencing as far back as 2012,” she said.
“The Torquay kinder community has worked hard, donated countless hours to raise the necessary funds to upgrade the landscaping and outdoor play spaces of one of the Surf Coast’s largest and fastestgrowing kindergartens.”
Ms Walsh said plans had been submitted to council in 2013 and 2015, but the current proposal was the first time a fully-costed plan for the outdoor play space redesign had been submitted with the desire of seeing a funding agreement expedited.
The parents committee has offered to fund 50 per cent of the total project cost — to the value of $56,250 — on the condition council supported an immediate allocation of funding.
The contribution could not be guaranteed in the next year as new volunteers will replace the current committee.
Ms Walsh said waiting until 2019 would mean consultation and planning on the project would again have to be undertaken with a new committee.
Surf Coast Shire general manager of culture and community Chris Pike said the kinder project was one of 13 community projects awaiting council funding.
Another project also waiting for funding assistance from council is Moriac Community Network’s proposal to construct an inclusive basket swing at Newling Reserve.
Network president Carrie Vanderpol said the community had a number of disabled children who were unable to play with their friends on current equipment.
One of those children is three-year-old Stephanie Nave, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy 18 months ago. Stephanie’s mum Dr Nave said Stephanie loved to swing, and it was disheart- ening the family had to travel to use playgrounds.
“Pretty much from about her diagnosis she became too big to swing on the standard baby swings, and with her disability she doesn’t have much muscle support to hold herself up,” she said. “She loves to swing, so pretty much for the last two years we have avoided walking near the Moriac playground because it’s heartbreaking to have to say no.”
Mr Pike said extra funding as part of the open space contributions was expected to come through within the next six months and be available for this project.
“That puts council in a position that there will be enough money to fund the basket swing,” he said.
Another 29 projects are waiting to be investigated for potential to join the Community Project Development list.