Wodonga has 79 public play spaces. The draft strategy and play space assessments guide the schedule of renewals but this is subject to Council budgets and other potential funding opportunities.

Ongoing maintenance ensures that playspaces remain safe and functional for the community.

The establishment of long-term natural shade, in particular, the planting of open canopied trees to the northern side of a play structure and any seating or picnic tables is the best form of long term, sustainable shade provision.

With larger neighbourhood or regional play spaces it is acknowledged that the community may spend longer periods of time at the facility, therefore a picnic shelter over barbecues, tables and seating or shade structures over equipment might also be provided in addition to natural shade.

Shade sails might be deemed appropriate where trees are yet to mature.

When community requests are received they are retained for consideration in the shade program.

Shade is dependent on available funding.

No, this is a review of an existing strategy.

The review was conducted to ensure the strategy remained relevant and recognised changes to local demographics and society.

The strategy, first developed in 2013, has been refreshed in 2023 to update:

• Overall approach, to reflect current best practice, trends, and community needs;
• Understanding of condition and performance of existing play spaces via comprehensive site assessments;
• Alignment with council policy, strategy, and guidelines;
• The action plan to plan for works over the coming decade; and,
• Quality of public open space in new sub-divisions.

This review expands on the previous strategy to recognise the broadened understanding of play. Play spaces capture the range of public active environments; playgrounds, casual court sports, skate parks, pump tracks, nature play areas, splash parks and parkour.

The Draft Wodonga Play Space Strategy 2024-2029 was developed by external consultants Emerge Associates.

It is a revision of the Playground Strategy 2016-2020 and Play Environments in Wodonga, with a consolidation into one primary strategy.

It builds on the previous strategy to ensure play provision within Wodonga continues to be appropriate, accessible, inclusive, stimulating and challenging for a variety of age ranges, guiding the strategic direction, appropriate asset management and implementation of play spaces.

The principles within this strategy will assist council in the planning, renewal, programming of regular and ongoing maintenance, and assessment for each of the playgrounds across Wodonga.

The draft strategy offers an evidenced based framework that will support an informed approach to the current and future delivery of playgrounds and play spaces in the city.

It establishes a vision and objective for play provision to meet current and future community needs and align with national and state legislation, standards and guidelines and Council legislated plans, strategies, and policies.

It acts as an important guide to land developers so their developments are consistent with the Wodonga Council’s vision for play provision.

The draft strategy includes criteria and principles for effective play provision, including play value, demand, supply and distribution based on both local playground catchments and neighbourhood precincts and a framework for play space hierarchy and development standards to ensure that play spaces are suitable and consistent with or equal to those when compared with provision elsewhere.

Since the last strategy was adopted in 2016, Wodonga has improved play spaces to provide greater play variety, interest, and comfort for visitors.

The Draft Play Space Strategy 2024-2029 will build on improvements over recent years and assist in prioritising renewal investment over the next five years and beyond.

Wodonga has made significant investment in play spaces across the city, this includes the upgrade and renewal of 25 play spaces and an additional 10 new spaces, including Belvoir Park Stage 2.

Regular review of the strategy is an opportunity to assess existing play spaces for quality of play experience (play value), amenity and accessibility which:

• Informs improvement opportunities and makes recommendations;
• Improves understanding of the current playground provision and distribution considering demographic data;
• Identifies opportunities and challenges with recommendations for future planning and reviews the principles for playground planning.

It allows for review and reprioritisation of renewals based on current assessment and audit information, raises other issues as they affect play in Wodonga and makes recommendations with cost estimates for all high priority renewals to inform future budgets.

The update incorporates and consolidates Play Environments in Wodonga 2014, and aligns with the Wodonga Open Space Strategy. This assists in developing criteria and principles for effective play provision, including play value, demand, supply and distribution based on both local playground catchments and neighbourhood precincts.

The renewal schedule is determined by a number of factors including equipment age, safety, local demographics and social dependence.

The review included assessment of existing play spaces for quality of play experience (play value), amenity and accessibility to inform improvement opportunities and make recommendations.

Each year audits are conducted on every public playground in Wodonga and are considered when reviewing the priority schedules.

One of the core objectives of this strategy is to ensure play spaces are diverse with varied opportunities for play. To assist with analysis, Wodonga has been divided into play space precincts.

These precincts are designed between major roads and waterway barriers to ensure that play space provision is accessible and does not require residents to traverse major roads or rivers. The combined provision within a precinct should mean that there is access to different elements of play within walking distance for residents.

The play space development standards identify the minimum provision of equipment and amenities at play spaces.

No. The Draft Wodonga Play Space Strategy 2024-2029 addresses play spaces on land that is owned and managed by the council and are publicly accessible.

It does not include play spaces provided by other organisations such as schools, kindergartens, and day care centres.