A Berry Big Boost For Rotary Adventure Playground

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP has today announced that a re-elected NSW Liberals and Nationals Government will commit $4 million towards an all ages and fully accessible adventure playground in Berry.

Mr Ward said that this project has been pioneered by Berry Rotary who have worked with the community and Roads and Maritime Services since the conclusion of the Berry Bypass.

“From the Berry Bypass to a brand new ambulance station, I love working hard and getting results for the northern Shoalhaven,” he said.

“This concept is a first for our region and is very exciting for all involved. Like many adventure playgrounds, “Boongaree” will provide a range of activities for all ages and levels of ability,

“Berry Rotary has been working hard to raise funds for this project since 2014 with the project adopted by Shoalhaven City Council as part of the Berry Strategic Plan in 2016. A future NSW Liberals and Nationals will back this initiative which will be of regional significance.

“Similar playgrounds in other parts of the country are not just popular with local families, but these facilities become tourism attractions for younger families that may want to play and stay in Berry.

“A community stakeholder workshop to commence the development of the Master Plan for the whole of the Berry District Park was held in April 2017.

“After considerable input by all user groups and the community, the final version for this Master Plan was endorsed by Council in late 2018,” Mr Ward said.

The Chair of the Nature Play Parkland Steering Committee Grahame Sweeney said the announcement was an important acknowledgement of a great project.

“We welcome the announcement by our local Member Gareth Ward and we thank him for working so closely with Berry Rotary to make this important commitment for local families.

“The Nature Play Parkland will cater for pre-school aged children, primary aged children and young teenagers, along with facilities for adults as carers and play partners, and also family get-togethers,” Mr Sweeney said.

Boongaree will include:

• A diverse range of settings, physically accessible, socially inclusive and welcoming for all young families regardless of their level of ability;
• A wide range of attractions to allow favourite mini-spaces, with graded challenges to help children develop their physical skills and gain a sense of satisfaction as they develop their confidence;
• Flying foxes, climbing nets, water channels and tunnels, the area will encourage children to ponder over details of nature, to play creatively with loose materials, to imagine, to role play and engage socially with each other in games of their own; and
• A ‘learn to ride’ roadway track to enable learning of road rules for local school students, along with senior’s fitness and exercise stations, BBQ picnic areas, garden landscaping and toilets.