Good engineering can impact on a community in ways far beyond bold and striking design. Recently, an innovative regional park in Casey has been recognised as both an excellent example of infrastructure and as a means to build a strong and healthy community. The Ray Bastin Reserve in Narre Warren is an integrated park that provides a great opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to interact, participate and promote a healthy lifestyle.
The engineering work has been recognised with a National Award in Local Government for Engineering and Infrastructure, and a State award from the Heart Foundation Kellogg Local Government Awards for helping to build a healthy community.
The park has a huge rubber crater, a rocket ship and mission control area, weather stations, a space monster and other facilities that allow children of all abilities to develop a full range of play behaviours, such as cognitive and social play, and game initiation.
The engineering involved a great deal of drainage to remove water from a flat site. In particular, the water had to be removed from the central crater. Because the land moves, as it is on a clay base, a special reinforced concrete was used for the paving. The design also changed as the park progressed, leading to a steady revision of the original engineering work.
Chief Executive Officer, Mike Tyler, said this four hectare site had been designed and developed mindful of the recreation needs of its 21,000 children aged under five years and 40,000 young people aged 12–24 years. Casey is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Melbourne.
“The reserve includes a regional playground with a space theme, an exciting street style skate park and a community events site, all set within landscaped parklands,” Mike Tyler said. “These fantastic results not only recognise that Casey provides high quality services, but they are also testament to the dedication and skills of our staff.”
The reserve is located on one of Casey’s busiest roads that carries close to 20,000 cars each day. A railway network and bus routes are nearby, as are the Fountain Gate Shopping Centre and the Casey Aquatic and Recreation Centre. The regional playground is a tremendous play area with a space or alien theme.
A significant amount of recycled rubber was used for under surfacing and park furniture. The skatepark provides a safe but challenging area for beginners and experienced skaters. The park has many innovative features. Rather than installing purely static play items, it was developed to inspire and challenge children to use their imagination. The park encourages children and young people to be active and to enjoy the physical and social benefits of play. To further help improve the environment more than 1,500 trees and shrubs have been planted on the site.
For more details contact Team Leader of Leisure, Jim Davine, on (03) 9705 5200.
