Slide the latest boost for village green
The beautification of Fairlie’s village green and playground has come sliding into view.
Community groups have spent hundreds of hours beautifying and upgrading the village green over the past couple of years, and last week, a new slide for the playground had its first run.
Fairlie Community Board chairman Owen Hunter said the six- metre-long slide had already proved popular with the locals.
‘‘The kids love it, it’s been a great addition. The work on improving the village green has been steady, most of it has been done in people’s own time.’’
Mr Hunter said Mackenzie District Council had pledged more than $25,000 toward the village green upgrade, which had included replanting, the creation of a makeshift amphitheatre area and expansion of the playground.
Former district councillor Kevin O’Neill, who helped arrange the first working bees on the upgrade more than two years ago, said community groups had raised more than $46,000 toward the upgrade.
‘‘I’m supposed to be retired, but it seems that I’m busier than ever before, helping on various projects throughout the town,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s been something the townspeople had wanted to do for several years, but it’s only recently we’ve had both the funding and resources to do something.
‘‘Several businesses have come on board with equipment and transport.’’
Mr Hunter said there were several other ideas for the village green and playground, including a tarpaulin cover for the amphitheatre stage, and an obstacle course for the playground.
‘‘We’re taking this one step at a time, it’s all dependent on time and funding.’’