Contract awarded for playground
Western Bay of Plenty District Council is pleased to confirm that Downer has been awarded the construction contract for the upgrade of the Ōmokoroa Domain’s playground.
Council’s Reserves and Facilities Projects and Assets Manager, Scott Parker, says Council followed a robust tender evaluation process, with the construction component of the $1.04 million project expected to total approximately $550,000.
“Downer are also responsible for the maintenance of Council’s reserves network, including playgrounds, and we are confident their teams’ experience on similar projects across the country will enable them to successfully deliver this project for our Ōmokoroa community,” says Scott.
The revamp of the Ōmokoroa Domain includes an exciting new destination playground to replace the existing outdated playground. The new playground will include swings, trampolines, tunnels, climbing structures and a hamster wheel, creating a new recreation experience for all visitors to the Domain. It will rejuvenate the main entrance into the Domain, as well as create a new fit-for-purpose destination play space, which will better serve the needs of the growing community.
Play equipment has been selected through a separate tender process and multiple suppliers. While some of the equipment is made in New Zealand, there are a number of items that needed to be imported from overseas. At this stage, the construction start date remains dependent on the global supply chain, with the delivery of some play equipment items currently delayed.
“However, the project is expected to be completed in time for summer, and we look forward to seeing children and their families enjoy the new facilities then,” says Scott.
The construction phase is the final stage of the project which started in 2018 after an extensive 18-month community engagement period with tangata whenua, representatives of the elderly, health and disability communities, local businesses and the five local schools within Pirirākau’s rohe – Ōmokoroa No 1, Ōmokoroa Point, Pahoia, Whakamārama and Te Puna.
The playground is part of the wider Ōmokoroa Domain Concept Plan which includes several other future upgrades in addition to the playground — such as extra car parking, boardwalk along The Esplanade and foreshore, more picnic areas and a covered BBQ, footpaths, fitness equipment and landscaping.
The upgrade is funded through a mix of existing asset renewal funding and capital works funding. For more information about this project, visit: www.westernbay.govt.nz/omokoroa-playground-upgrade.