Playground Strategy (Playstreet)

Published on 25 August 2024

This report serves as a strategic roadmap for the stageable upgrade and implementation of Burnie's parks and playgrounds through the creation of four key 'connected parks'.

▪️Shorewell Park - Rural Theme

▪️View Road Reserve - Adventure Theme

▪️Burnie Park - Nature Theme

▪️Waterfront Playground - Marine Theme

These connected parks are built upon existing assets and features, establishing a hierarchy and strengthening the sense of place and uniqueness of Burnie. They also acknowledge the desired individual scale to support the community's social and physical well-being by connecting open space and community facilities, creating a dialogue between the parks.

Playground Strategy (Playstreet)(PDF, 12MB)

This report provides an analysis of each identified park, a design theme is proposed, along with suggestions for improvements such as the addition of new play spaces, improved accessibility, increased interest and better connections between parks. 

With the strong foundation provided by Burnie's current open space network, the implementation of this plan could have a significant positive impact on the Burnie community and the region as a whole. 

Updates

February 2026

Council officers conducted a community consultation asking for feedback on 3 playground concept designs. With 580 votes received, Design 3 was the clear community favourite with 55% of the votes.

Design 1 followed, with Designs 4 and 2 rounding out the results.

Our biggest voice came from 25–34 year olds, followed by children under 12 (via parents).
The top suburbs represented were Shorewell Park, Burnie, Acton, Upper Burnie and Montello – showing fantastic local engagement.

2025

 Following a competitive tender process, Active Areas has been awarded the contract for the Shorewell Playground project.  The contractor has presented several design options, and Council officers will seek community input on these before finalising the preferred design.

The Shorewell Playground is the first of the four parks to be upgraded, and has secured a project budget of $1,500,000. This funding is comprised of a $1,000,000 contribution from the Federal Government, $400,000 from the Local Government of Tasmania’s Open Spaces Grant and $100,000 of Council own source funding.

Council’s 2025–26 Annual Plan and Budget commits to progressing the Playground Strategy and delivering upgrades at both Shorewell Park and the Waterfront.

2024
This report was first made available for public viewing at Council's 'Food & Feedback' event, held at Burnie Arts on 24 August 2024. Playstreet's Miriam Shevland led public consultation on the Playground Study at the event with a particular focus on the $1m playground proposed for construction at Shorewell Park FY 2025/26.

$1.5 million playground planned for Shorewell Park

The first of the four parks proposed to be upgraded is Shorewell Park, which will boast a rural theme.

The Shorewell Playground project has a budget of $1.5 million. During the 2025 Federal Election, both Labor and Liberal committed $1 million towards the upgrade. The project is funded through a $1 million State Government contribution, $400,000 from the Local Government of Tasmania Open Spaces Grant, and $100,000 in Council funding.

The reserve is in a built-up residential area, next to the popular Burnie Community House. It will provide not only a safe space for children to play, ride bikes and enjoy the outdoors, but it will also deliver a place for community markets and events.

Following Shorewell Park, new themed playgrounds are also proposed for View Road Reserve (adventure theme), Burnie Park (nature theme), and West Beach (marine theme).