The playground refurbishment program will provide a strategic approach as to how Council plans to manage playgrounds in the municipality over the next five years and beyond.

The program has identified a priority order for the refurbishment works based on the age of equipment and general wear.

The City of Casey is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Australia and will become one of the five most highly populated municipalities in Australia. In response to this development there is a need for the provision of safe and innovative playgrounds within the municipality, an important step in contributing to Casey’s liveability.

The playground strategy and five year action plan has identified and prioritised Council's playgrounds into a working refurbishment program to ensure that Casey’s playgrounds continue to meet the needs and interests of the local communities and to effectively:

· Identify playgrounds for renewal, refurbishment and retirement.

· Ensure that playgrounds continue to meet the current Australian Standards.

· Encourage children to get active in their own neighbourhood.

· Provide play opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.

· Promote and encourage residents including local kindergarten children to have their say in the design of the playground.

The information you provide will help us benchmark our performance nationally, guide the sort of arts and cultural experiences we deliver and assist achieving our vision of creating Australia's most livable city.

The specific information will also assist in the preparation of the 'new' playground design brief which contributes to the overall outcome of the playground design.

Playgrounds are classified at local, district and regional levels that cater for diverse ages, genders, interests and abilities of users within the City of Casey and beyond.

Local playgrounds are located in residential areas and provide walkable access within 500m of most households. Typically small in size catering primarily for the local community who would use the area regularly, but for short periods of time thus requiring only basic park infrastructure such as seating and shade trees. The range of play equipment and target age groups will vary but should cater for a variety of age groups and user abilities.

District playgrounds in residential areas are provided within 2km of households. Typically medium sized playgrounds within a larger park / reserve, accessed via a combination of pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle visits. Visits are usually between 1-3 hours. They offer a range of play activities that cater for all ages and abilities and often contain some park infrastructure including seating within the immediate surrounds.

Regional playgrounds, Casey has one in the north and one in the south of the municipality. Typically a large playground with unique quality play activities, catering for a wide range of age groups and abilities attract large numbers of people from across the municipality and outside of the City of Casey and generally they stay for more than two hours. They have shelters, picnic furniture including BBQ/water and public toilets facilities.