Playground Renewal and Upgrade Program
Nillumbik Shire Council continues its commitment to providing high-quality, inclusive, and engaging playspaces for children and families across the municipality.
With more than 60 public outdoor playspaces, Council undertakes a rolling Playground Renewal and Upgrade Program to ensure facilities remain safe, accessible, and responsive to community needs.
The 2026-27 Playground Renewal and Upgrade Program is part of Council's broader playspace improvement initiative, with renewal priorities identified through assessments of playground age, condition audits, and community usage levels.
Proposed sites for 2026-27
The schedule of playgrounds that have been identified for the 2026-27 Playground Renewal and Upgrade Program is currently being finalised.
Program objectives
The Playground Renewal and Upgrade Program aims to:
- Replace ageing playground infrastructure and improve safety outcomes.
- Deliver play experiences that support cognitive, creative, physical, and social development.
- Enhance accessibility and inclusiveness to encourage participation by children of varying ages and abilities.
- Strengthen opportunities for nature-based and exploratory play within local neighbourhood parks.
Overall, the 2026-27 program will continue to invest in renewing key community playspaces, ensuring local families have access to safe, modern, and inclusive recreation facilities that support healthy outdoor play and community connection.
How are renewal priorities determined?
Renewal priorities for the 2026-27 Playground Renewal and Upgrade Program are determined using a combination of three key assessment criteria:
- Playground age – Older playgrounds that are reaching the end of their useful life are assessed for renewal.
- Condition audits – Council undertakes inspections and condition assessments to evaluate factors such as asset deterioration, safety, compliance, functionality, and maintenance requirements. Playgrounds with poorer condition ratings are prioritised for renewal.
- Community usage levels – The frequency and intensity of use by local residents is considered to ensure investment is directed towards playspaces that provide the greatest benefit to the community.
These criteria help Council identify which playgrounds should be included in the annual renewal program and ensure funding is directed towards facilities that are ageing, require replacement, or are highly valued by the community.
In addition to replacing ageing infrastructure, the Playground Renewal and Upgrade Program focuses on delivering:
- Improved safety for users.
- Accessible and inclusive play opportunities.
- Play experiences that support cognitive, creative, physical and social development.
- Nature-based and exploratory play opportunities within local neighborhood parks.
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