During site survey work that was being conducted recently as part of the preparations for Adventure Playground construction week, it was found there are Aboriginal artefacts present on the proposed playground site.
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With this information, the playground committee, Tamworth Regional Council, the Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Office of Environment and Heritage must now work together to follow the correct steps to ensure that these artefacts are protected.
This process is estimated to take between six and 12 months, so the playground build must be delayed from the advertised October build dates.
While we are disappointed to have to delay the build, we greatly respect the Aboriginal culture and significance of this find and look forward to working with all partners to ensure that the preservation of these artefacts occurs.
The playground committee will be working to secure new build dates as soon as possible in 2015.
We are also taking this opportunity to continue working on making the playground fully accessible for all children.
We are in the process, with the assistance of local community groups, of applying for funding to purchase equipment such as a 20m flying fox with capsule seating, a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round and a whirly-go-round which will be beneficial for children with autism or low confidence.
With an extension of the playground build dates, we will have time to hopefully get this funding approved and the equipment purchased and ready for installation on the new build dates.
The playground committee will also continue working with local disability groups and health professionals to ensure that the playground is unique and compatible to the needs of children with varying abilities and special needs.
This includes the inclusion of signage suitable to the needs of children with hearing and visual impairments.
We would like to recognise that many volunteers have already made arrangements either for themselves or on behalf of others around the original build dates.
We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your ongoing support of the Adventure Playground project. We look forward to working with you again soon to build this amazing asset for our community and will contact you as soon as we have new dates confirmed.
Charles Impey
Tamworth Children’s Adventure Playground Project
