Wollondilly Council has welcomed the commitment of $920,120 in bushfire recovery funding to construct shade shelters at seven facilities across the Shire and to upgrade the playground at Picton Botanic Gardens as an inclusive play space.

The upgrades will be delivered through Stage Two of the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.

Mayor Robert Khan said that the addition of shade shelters in Warragamba, Tahmoor, Bargo, Oakdale, Thirlmere, Buxton and The Oaks and the inclusive play space will offer residents safe and friendly places to gather, share their experiences and move forward together.

“As our communities continue to recover from the impacts of the Green Wattle Creek bushfire it is important to have welcoming locations for a variety of events to support community wellbeing,” he said.

“It will be fantastic to have another inclusive play space in the Shire, and the new shade shelters will make our local playgrounds sun-safe for residents and prolong the life of the play equipment.”

Federal Member for Hume, Angus Taylor MP highlighted that the successful projects funded were focused on local solutions and local needs.

“These community spaces will make a big difference to the residents of Wollondilly, providing places for people to build social bonds, strengthen community resilience and support wellbeing.”

“The projects will also create jobs in the construction phase and will encourage tourism to the area in the longer term,” Mr Taylor said.

State Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith MP said, “I hope that these playgrounds will symbolise hope for the future and help impacted residents with the healing process after the devastation of the 2019/20 bushfires.”

“This is one of four Wollondilly projects successful in this round of Bushfire Local Economic Recovery funding and I look forward to seeing the positive social and economic impacts on the Wollondilly community.”

In addition to the very popular Livvi’s Place at Warragamba, the Picton Botanic Gardens will be home to the second inclusive play space in the Shire, providing a place where children of all abilities can play together.

The shade shelters will be built at Warragamba Recreation Reserve, Emmett Park Tahmoor, Bargo Sportsground Playground, Willis Park at Oakdale, Thirlmere Memorial Park, Telopea Park at Buxton, and Harold Noakes Reserve at The Oaks.