By Rowan Forster
A solar-powered DJ booth, splash pad and a Ninja Warrior-inspired rope course will transform Gembrook’s dilapidated playground into millennial heaven.
Ambitious plans released by Cardinia Shire have detailed the $1.5 million overhaul of Gembrook Leisure Park – which will make it among the most innovative play spaces in Melbourne’s south-east.
The surprise inclusion, a Yalp Fono outdoor DJ controller, has sparked significant interest from teens.
Imported from the Netherlands and touted as indestructible, the world’s only solar music re-mixer comes at a hefty price tag of about $34,000 AU.
Users simply need to place their smartphone on Fono’s pickup pad to amplify the audio, adjust the turntables, use the crossfader and add effects.
Also included as part of the rejuvenation will be a new skate park, a basketball and netball court, exercise stations, a flying fox, an all-abilities play area and brand new play equipment.
It is believed the playground will be inspired by Parkour, the viral – and often ridiculed – urban gymnastics sensation.
Dylan Styles, a self-proclaimed Parkour enthusiast from Berwick, was astonished by the DJ kit.
He described it as “bizarre”, but conceded it may be a popular facet of the park’s makeover.
“A lot of the lads are obsessed with electronic music and they’re going to want to make their own,” he said.
“DJ sets aren’t very easy to find so it’ll probably get a lot of traction, this one.
“It seems like they’re appealing to teenagers.”
The current playground, which features a micro Puffing Billy train, has deteriorated severely in recent years.
Last month, it was announced the Federal Government, State Government and Cardinia Shire Council would all be chipping in $500,000 to create something “truly unique”.
Federal MP Jason Wood confessed that he loved the aging playground, but the community had spoken.
“I love the playground but everybody says it’s looking quite old and sad,” he said.
“This is going to be a modern, state-of-the-art playground and it will be a great win for the community.
“This town is in need of some good news after what happened with the Ranges Hotel.”
Despite the design being supported by the Gembrook Community Group, some ratepayers believe skaters are being “short-changed” in the new layout.
“Being the only skate park in the Hills, they need to keep it in its full capacity,” Gembrook’s Jack Jeffree said.
“People come from all over the hills to use the skate park because there isn’t anything else.”
Under the newly released plans, the skate park is proposed as open-plan and will not be fenced off from the playground.
It appears to be smaller – but also more compact – than Gembrook’s current skate park, which is set for demolition.
“It still has ramps and a huge amount of skate-able surfaces and obstacles within the park,” one ratepayer said, in defence of the design.
“As an example, the edges of the ball play area are raised skate-able kerbs.”
Council received submissions from 156 community members in March, providing their feedback about what the Master Plan should include.
It has been re-opened for consultation until 26 November.
