Macedon Ranges MP, Joanne Duncan visited the Woodend Children's Park site last week to announce a $120,000 Community Support Grant for the Park through the Dept. for Planning & Community Development. Joanne paid tribute to the extraordinary community partnerships that this project has generated to work together to build the Woodend Children's Park with support from the local community, benefactors, business, Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the State Government.

See photos of announcement at the Park with Joanne Duncan

Fundraising activities have understandably had a high profile over the past year. Now that we're getting closer to our financial target it is a good time to highlight some of the other components of this complex project which involve tireless work in the background by many generous supporters of the park:

• Design team has worked tirelessly to finalise design
• Land allocation for the park is almost double the size originally budgeted for, this has had significant budget implications for landscaping, fencing and equipment which are all being worked through and nearing finalisation. We are almost there!
• A comprehensive equipment brief was released and submissions were received from Australia’s leading play equipment suppliers. Shortlisted suppliers also made impressive presentations. Selection of equipment for each zone in the park is now being made based on detailed evaluation criteria.
• Based on those equipment proposals, and detailed assessments of other park requirements, the construction team are identifying & preparing detailed costings for all individual components of the park.
• Being near the creek brought some obstacles and delays for our permit and issues such as drainage and cultural heritage significance needed to be addressed first but the good news that the park's Planning Permit will be issued shortly.
• Construction team is finalising the underground services design, approval and installation
• Construction team is now listing and creating specifications for the construction and installation of individual components of the park in readiness for Building Permit application
• Finalise offers of in-kind goods and services. We will soon have an itemised list of all items that would be gratefully accepted in-kind. All assistance will be greatly appreciated.
• Grants team is actively pursuing all avenues for additional grant support to meet the full budget
• Construction team is working through detailed aspects of health and safety for the construction phase including temporary fencing, site security, signage etc. Safety & security of volunteers, contractors and the local community will be of highest priority.
• Donations team is working to finalise donations with a number of local businesses and families that have indicated they would like to donate. If you have been holding off making a donation... now is the time so that final assessments of what can and can't be included in the park can be made.
• The next steps will be formal endorsement of the final detailed budget, selection of suppliers and in-kind goods and services, with commencement of construction in the new year.

If you haven't seen the concept designs: view online now

The Woodend Children's Park team had stall at last Saturdays Woomba Street Festival. Thankyou to everyone that supported the park either by buying a paver, t-shirt or raffle ticket or offering your support and positive feedback on the day. The raffle winners have now been drawn.

See photos of Woomba street festival

Planning your Christmas shopping? You can buy these cool T-Shirts in kids and young adult sizes from Zappa Do for $15. All proceeds go to Woodend Children's Park. Get your T-Shirts now - they make a wonderful Christmas present.

Get your own personalised paver to be installed in the park. Decorate it with children's drawings & messages, or use as a record of anniversaries/birthdays, or a tribute to someone special. Collect order forms at May Five Gifts, High Street Woodend, or downloaded from our website.