Spotswood youngsters and their families now have a new space to enjoy.
Williamstown MP Melissa Horne joined Hobsons Bay mayor Antoinette Briffa and councillor Peter Hemphill to officially open the new park at Spotswood’s Donald McLean Reserve on Saturday, April 1, as part of a community day featuring face paining, a coffee van and free native plant giveaways.
A joint funding project between the state government’s West Gate Tunnel Project and Hobsons Bay council, the new park includes a sheltered barbecue area, a bike skills area, a flying fox, a basketball and netball court and a children’s playground, as well as an outdoor exercise station and new gardens, trees and walking paths.
Cr Briffa said the council is grateful to the state government for its “valauble contribution” to the project.
“Donald McLean Reserve is a significant part of our local open space and sports community and it’s fantastic to see the redevelopment of the entire precinct now complete,” she said.
Ms Horne said the new facilities are part of the West Gate Tunnel project’s support for local recreation.
“We’re helping to create greener suburbs, better facilities, and more open space for families to enjoy in their local communities,” she said.
The new playground and recreation facilities follows on recently opened upgrades at the Donald McLean Reserve, including a rebuild of the W&M Couch pavilion change rooms.
The Donald McLean Reserve Master Plan underwent extensive community consultation and was endorsed by Hobsons Bay council in 2013.
Hobsons Bay council then revised the plan due to the design of the West Gate Tunnel and the off ramps leading to Hyde Street to create the Donald McLean Reserve Improvement Plan in 2019.
Matthew Sims
