More than a decade of passionate community campaigning came to fruition last week when Brimbank council ticked off the development of the Sunvale Community Park.
Construction of the park on the site of the former Sunvale Primary School is expected to begin in coming weeks after council awarded the works contract at last week’s meeting.
Mayor John Hedditch, who was part of the long-running campaign by Friends of Sunvale Community Park for community use of the school site, said it was great to see the project moving forward.
“It’s no secret that the Sunvale Community Park development is a project the whole Sunshine community has been extremely passionate about,” Cr Hedditch said.
“Finally we are filling a long-term gap in community access to open space.
“I’m thrilled we are now at the stage where construction is about to commence.”
The project will cost $1.9 million, with $500,000 allocated in this year’s council budget and a further $1.15 million allocated in the draft 2017-18 budget.
The state government contributed $100,000 to the project, with Melbourne Water adding $185,000.
The park will include play spaces, a skate park, a circuit path network with exercise stations, a “kick a ball’ space, an outdoor cinema, a cricket pitch and picnic facilities.
“The Sunshine community, particularly for those who live close to the town centre, will have direct access to a high-quality park with wonderful green and recreation facilities,” Cr Hedditch said.
“The Sunshine community has played a key role in this project, from ensuring this land remained in public hands to providing important input to help inform the development of a masterplan for the site.”
Simpson Construction Company Pty Ltd won the tender for construction of the park, with works expected to begin next month.
