A petition to upgrade ageing playgrounds in a Sunshine Coast suburb is gaining momentum, with a local parent calling a proposed $150,000 upgrade and years-long wait for improvements “extremely disappointing”.
Palmwoods resident Jennifer Brunton is pushing for more developmentally appropriate play spaces for children, particularly those aged over five, who she says are being left with limited local options for active outdoor play.
“Many of the playgrounds in Palmwoods are outdated, rusty and no longer meet the needs of older children,” she said.
“There is very little in Palmwoods that encourages older children to engage in active, unstructured outdoor play, meaning many simply stop using the playgrounds altogether.”
Ms Brunton raised the issue at a community meeting on May 13, where Councillor Winston Johnston advised Federation Park was scheduled to receive $150,000 towards upgrades in 2027/2028.
He also noted this would not be enough for a new playground due to the cost of meeting current health and safety standards.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said the design phase for Federation Park in coming financial years would include community consultation.
“This will be the right time for locals to share their views on the project details,” the spokesperson said.
Ms Brunton said the timeline and funding allocation do not reflect the urgency felt by families in the growing community.
“I think the proposed budget and timeline are extremely disappointing,” she said.
“Palmwoods is a rapidly growing town with many young families who could benefit from these upgrades now, not several years down the track.”
Ms Brunton said the petition had already received strong support from local families.
“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” she said.
“A common theme has been that families currently need to travel to neighbouring towns to access more challenging playgrounds for older children.”
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The petition is in paper form rather than online, which Ms Brunton said has limited accessibility but is still building momentum.
It can be signed at Palmwoods State School, Home Grown Cafe in Palmwoods, Kidzco Palmwoods and several local childcare centres.
“Unfortunately, the council process for online petitions is quite restrictive, which is disappointing as I believe many more community members would participate if there was an easier online option,” Ms Brunton said.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said the council takes pride in maintaining 1382 recreation parks and open spaces, 385 playgrounds and 205 public amenities across the region.
“These playgrounds, along with a network of recreational parks and trails, informal sports facilities such as basketball, netball, skate parks and pump tracks, exercise stations, creeks, beaches and bushland reserves, make Council a significant provider of opportunities for play in the region,” they said.
“For an aerial view or to locate park facilities, visit Sunshine Coast Council’s website and search the Beaches and Park Directory which includes an interactive map.”
