By Alana Mitchelson
Officer has a new park in the Timbertop estate with plenty of swings and slides for the kids to play on.
Construction of Hicks Reserve, named after the former owners of the land, began earlier this month and officially opened on Friday 20 January with Cardinia Shire Mayor Brett Owen doing the honours of cutting the ribbon.
Timbertop’s land has been farmed since the 1800s by the Hicks family whose members were early pioneers in the Officer area.
The land was used for dairy farming, apple orchards and beef cattle before being purchased in 2003 to develop the Timbertop estate.
The two-hectare park is located in the heart of the estate on the corner of Timbertop Boulevard and Goldsborough Drive.
There are walking tracks with native planting, a lookout area, playground and giant slide, barbecue facilities, a picnic area and a large ‘kickabout’ area.
John Hicks said it was a “great honour” to have the beautiful park named after his family.
“Over the years we have seen many changes in Officer, from no one knowing where this little country town was, to a thriving township,” Mr Hicks said.
“With the viewing platform at the top of the hill to the huge slide going down, I’m sure families in the area will enjoy it for many years to come.”
Mayor Brett Owen and members of the Hicks family shared some laughs while taking it in turns to try out the giant slide, which was imported from Germany.
Hicks Reserve is one of several parks planned for the estate.
