Place to play in Pakenham

Cardinia Shire Mayor Graeme Moore and Cr Ray Brown by Deep Creek Reserve''s state-of-the-art play space during its construction. Image courtesy: Cardinia Shire Council.

By Jessica Anstice

A new state-of-the-art park will officially open in Pakenham on Saturday 26 October.

Deep Creek Reserve is set to be a place of environmental and recreational significance within Cardinia, and the location of one of the area’s best all-abilities play spaces.

The community is invited to celebrate the opening on site, at the end of Cameron Way from 10am to 1pm.

The day will allow residents to learn about the new and exciting space, as well as take part in a number of family-friendly activities.

On display will be Cardinia Shire Council’s waste team’s worm farm, a Cardinia Environment Coalition pop-up stall and the Royal Botanic Gardens bandicoot promotion.

For the kids, there will be face painting a native animal demonstration.

A free sausage sizzle will also commence at 12pm and the Pakenham Golf Club will be operating the cafe throughout the day.

The reserve now boasts the Deep Creek Environment Centre, a multi-user shared facility that will promote ecology, education and sport.

It also includes an all-abilities playground, sand and water play area, shelters and barbecues, a kick-about area, new golf club rooms, wetlands, sensory gardens, an indigenous plant nursery, solar lighting, footpaths and a car park.

Cardinia Mayor Graeme Moore encouraged all residents to visit the new reserve, which will enable community members of all ages to meet, play, learn and play in the parklands.

“Council is thrilled to invite the community to the opening of Deep Creek Reserve, which is sure to become a must-visit destination in Cardinia Shire,” Cr Moore said.

“Not only will the facility provide employment and education opportunities for our community, and attract visitors to the regional size, all-abilities play space, but it will also work to demonstrate best practice in environmental sustainable design.

“The Deep Creek Environment Centre has a number of environmental features including a 40kW solar electricity system, recycled bricks, sustainably sourced timber, energy-efficient appliances and lighting, rainwater harvesting for toilet flushing and independent solar powered car park lighting.

Cr Moore added, “We’re also very excited to announce that the Cardinia Environment Coalition has partnered with the State Government to incorporate the science excellence centre, Ecolinc, at the site, which will enable schools to visit and learn about the natural environment.”

Council has contributed $9.2 million to the Deep Creek Reserve project, with the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund contributing an additional $2.825 million.

The indigenous plant nursery was part-funded by the Andrew’s Foundation with a contribution of $200,000.

The development has been a largescale collaborative effort between many departments across council, various State Government departments, multiple organisations, including the Pakenham Golf Club, Cardinia Environment Coalition and the Andrews Foundation, and the Cardinia community.