McHattan Park in Walcha is getting a make-over

When to close the McHattan Park playground.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Walcha Town and Country Committee, and the lobbying of new Councillor and young mum Rachael Wellings, the McHattan Park playground is currently getting a much needed upgrade.

Unfortunately this requires a period of closure and Council decided this would be best to occur between the September School Holidays and the Christmas School Holidays, as during school holiday periods  the playground is frequented by many travellers going through Walcha heading north or south.

“The closure was a conscious decision made by the engineering department to ensure the upgrade was complete prior to the school holidays and Council closure in December,” said Walcha Council director of engineering Dylan Reeves.

“Council has quite a long road ahead in terms of completing the McHattan Park playground upgrade, and required all of the time possible to complete the project.”

Mr Reeves said the McHattan Park playground is currently limited in equipment and has some existing equipment that is no longer functional.  

“The upgrade will not only expand the equipment available at the park, it will also refurbish the existing equipment to ensure that all pieces are functional,” he said.

The upgrade will cost $85,000 which includes a $5,000 donation from the Town and Country Committee.

New equipment that will be installed includes: talking tubes; games panels; a rotonet climber; a spring rocker; a g-pod; a swing set consisting of a standard set, a bird’s nest swing and an expression swing which allows a parent and young child to swing together. The old chain climber and plastic dome window will also be replaced.

Construction work currently underway  includes: the removal of the old timber playground edging and mulch softfall; the stripping of grass and soil from reclaimed areas and the excavation of footings for new equipment. The playground will then receive a new rubber softfall and mulch with a concrete edging.

Mr Reeves said the playground should be open again by December depending on the contractor and weather conditions.