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Attachment A - Timeline
Hinterland Playground, Cooroy
Site and Project History
2000 - Queensland Government closed the Cooroy Mill in accordance with the
Regional Forest Agreement.
2002 - Queensland Government handed over the Lower Mill Site to Noosa Council
for community purposes
2003 – Cooroy Forest Park Concept Master Plan developed for Lower Mill site.
The scaled drawings were of an Adventure Playground surrounded by an Arboretum of
trees.
2004 - Cooroy Lower Mill Community Board formed by Council to oversee site
development
2006 - Board commissioned consultants to develop a Concept Master Plan and
support the development of the Lower Mill Site and the Butter Factory Precinct.
The vision for the site had been realised by a focus on "Design for Living" activities. The
intent of the Master Plan was to propose uses and activities to improve access and
connectivity within Cooroy and improve the sites visitation and utility by providing
recreational infrastructure. Roofed and open areas were describes as particularly useful for
events and activities.
The Timber Yard Playground descriptions as referenced in the Master Plan were:
“a multi-node playground experience, incorporating the creek, bridges, interpretation,
picnic facilities and fenced areas of high quality playground equipment.”
“The playground is designed to be an all abilities playground, attracting visitation from
across the district.”
“Timber use is a theme throughout the playground, particularly in the design of
ancillary shelter structures and furniture.”
Extensive community consultation was conducted by a contracted consultant to engage
and report on community comments and concerns.
The reports from this community consultation relevant to the 2019 design include:
support for the development of the Lower Mill Site for community use;
support for the landscaping and trail design that links the overflow parking on the
northern side of the river to the town center;
appreciation of the BBQ and picnic facilities to be provided;
encouragement to providing meeting spaces;
support for the protection of the riparian zone and related vegetation buffer;
encouragement to remove weed species from the riparian zone;
support for open green space provided;
concern for the limited size of the space to include buildings;
the need to consider the flood prone nature of the site;
the need to ensure that the development does not cause an increase in upstream flood
levels; and
the need of additional parking spaces.
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2006 – Works & Community Services Committee Report published by Noosa Councils
Director of Services Alan Rogers – 22 Nov
The publically available Noosa Council Works & Community Services Report 2006
discussed the implementation of the Design for Living Lower Mill Masterplan concept.
2008 March - Noosa Council merger with Shire of Maroochy and City of Caloundra to
form Sunshine Coast Region.
2010 – New Cooroy Library Built
Community consultation was conducted with the regard to the design features and location
of the Cooroy Library, adjacent to the Lower Mill site.
2014 January - Noosa Council re-established
2015 – Council reviewed Town Centre infrastructure priorities prior to the merger and
recognise the identification of an iconic nature based playground to be constructed in the
Noosa hinterland.
2015/16 – Funding approved in 2015/2016 Capital Works Budget for Planning & Design for
a Hinterland Playground
2016 – Council Meeting Hinterland Playground Concept Presentation
Staff presented the options for the location of a nature based, all-abilities Hinterland
playground.
The evaluation for a playground space within the townships of Cooroy, Cooran, Pomona
and Kin Kin included:
Available space;
minimisation of environmental impacts;
existing facilities;
connectivity to services
parking; and
economic development.
Cooroy was chosen as the preferred location due to the site assessments and historical
nature of the site relating to its proposed development as a community use facility.
Councillors provided positive feedback on the proposal of a nature based playground at
Cooroy.
The Hinterland Playground project then moved into the research and design phase.
Research found that natural playgrounds provided children with more opportunities to
develop a greater range of skills compared to typical pre-formed playgrounds.
2017/18 – Architectural concept drawings for the Hinterland Playground, by Majstorovic
Architecture
March 2018 – Capital Works Project Brief developed for 2018/2019 budget process for
the playground
April 2018 – Council officer D. Bickley met with Cooroy Chamber of Commerce,
Cooroy Futures Group and CARA (Cooroy Area Residents Association) individually to
present and discuss Hinterland Playground concept plan.
Discussion was very positive and encouraging.
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May 2018 – Council Executive Team Meeting
Agreement that that a Project Control Group (PCG) should be established to oversee the
project with the first role of the PCG being define the project scope.
Planning phase commences with internal and external consultation and an Invitation
to Quote issued to a select list of experienced Landscape Architects to undertake the
detailed design.
July 2018 – Form Architects engaged to design Cooroy Hinterland Playground
3 July 2018 – Media Release - Announces $1.25M for iconic hinterland playground
Council’s draft 2018/19 budget includes $1.25M to finalise a design and break ground on a
new nature-based hinterland playground at Cooroy.
9 July 2018 – Media Release - $5.4 million worth of infrastructure projects for the Noosa
Hinterland in Noosa Council's 2018/19 capital works budget.
2018 – Grant Application made to State Government to support cost
October 2018 – Services & Organisation Committee Report, by Project Officer Paul
Brennan
This report to Council provided an update on the progress of the planning phase for the
Hinterland Playground. Endorsement for the establishment of a dedicated internal Working
Group and a separate External Reference Group for the duration of the Cooroy Hinterland
Playground was also requested and approved.
November 2018 – Establishment of monthly internal and external working groups for
the Cooroy Hinterland Playground
Jan 2019 – Councillor Workshop - to provide an informal update on the project and obtain
feedback
April 2019 – Communications contractor engagement to support project.
May 2019 – Council receives 60% of the required playground budget being $2,788,770.60
of grant funding from the Queensland Government’s 2019-21 LGGSP Local Government
Grants and Subsidies Program.
Media release sent out by Council announcing the Hinterland Playground State grant
funding.
Ongoing monthly internal and external working group meetings
References
1. Cooroy Future Group website
2. Lower Mill Site and the Butter Factory Precinct Masterplan
3. Works & Community Services Committee Report
4. Council Minutes - Funding approval 2015/2016 Budget for Planning & Design for a
Hinterland Playground
5. July 2018 Media Release - Announces $1.25M for iconic hinterland playground Council’s
draft 2018/19 budget
6. July 2018 – Media Release - $5.4 million worth of infrastructure projects for the Noosa
Hinterland in Noosa Council's 2018/19 capital works budget.
7. 2018 – Grant Application to State Government
8. October 2018 – Services & Organisation Committee Report
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