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Parks Practice Note 10.2: Invitation to Join Reference Group

By Chris Champion posted 21-04-2015
Renewal Planning, Valuation and Asset Management Plans Second Parks Practice Note Underway Following the successful production of Parks Practice Note 10.1, IPWEA is now ready to develop the second practice note in the parks series, which is designed to provide practical parks specific guidance to financial budgeting and planning, valuations, renewal plans and asset management plans. Invitation to participate in Industry Reference ...
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Trail blazers

By pwpro posted 13-02-2014
If recreation amenities are a tangible reflection of the quality of life in a community, then Queenstown has it sweet! This new mountain bike trail network is fast gaining much-deserved international recognition. By Brian McCormack A new network of mountain bike trails in Queenstown, New Zealand, has prompted a saying in the renowned ski resort town: dirt is the new snow. The latest in these developments ...
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All hands on deck

By pwpro posted 06-02-2014
By engaging end-users, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council ensured community-wide respect for its ambitious $700,000 skate park, constructed in 2011 by Melbourne-based contractor, Convic. By Gemma Black In 2006, the skating fraternity in Port Macquarie-Hastings Council on the NSW mid-north coast was in dire need of an upgrade to their skate park. By 2011, they had a world-class, $700,000 facility that would prove ...
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Child's play

By pwpro posted 05-02-2014
Engaging with end-users when developing community infrastructure is good practice, but is often overlooked when the end-user is a child. Now, a pilot program in South Australia is aiming to change that. By Gemma Black In early 2013, Campbelltown City Council in South Australia held a meeting to discuss a $300,000 children’s maze proposed for a play space adjacent to the local library, in Anderson Court ...
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Powered by imagination

By pwpro posted 04-02-2014
The digital age is often blamed for our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, but this playground in Ipswich, Queensland, gets kids back outside by turning the challenge into the solution. By Carla Grossetti Revolutionary new playgrounds that combine outdoor activity with digital and interactive gaming are “adventure grounds for the 21st century”.  So says the rather aptly named Ben Urban, director of Urban Play – the company ...
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Parks study unlocks benefits evidence

By Chris Champion posted 17-03-2013
Report on the benefits of urban parks examines the scientific evidence on health, wellbeing, social cohesion and house prices. A report that attempts to work out the quality and strength of evidence on the benefits of urban parks is a must-read for all parks leaders, says an expert. Benefits of Urban Parks, written for the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration, looks at the evidence on health and wellbeing, ...
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ISO meets to discuss a global standard for playground equipment and surfacing standards

By pwpro posted 08-11-2012
The International Standard Organisation has convened the first meeting to develop global standards for playground equipment and surfaces. Public Works Professional speaks to Australia's delegate to the committee about local consequences. By Frances Sacco A global standard for playground equipment and surfacing standards could be reality in the next few years. Although the process is in the earliest stage of infancy, Australian experts ...
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Quenching a thirst

By pwpro posted 31-08-2012
While very little flourishes in times of drought, something good did come of South Australia’s last big dry spell – a code of practice to help local governments make the best of what little water they have. By Frances Sacco Thanks to a severe drought period in 2003, the South Australian Government decided to implement the ‘Water Proofing Adelaide Strategy’ to ensure water sources could be well managed in the future. So, ...
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Sporting success at Saltwater

By pwpro posted 31-08-2012
The development of Australia’s first full-size synthetic AFL and cricket field at Saltwater Reserve means Wyndham, Victoria, is now a key destination for Australia’s sporting best. By Stephanie Hollebrandse Saltwater Reserve, located in the City of Wyndham, Melbourne, features a sporting complex with six separate fields and eight tennis courts. In late 2011, the precinct also became home to Australia’s first full-size synthetic turf AFL ...
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What is your Green Space worth?

By Chris Champion posted 09-01-2012
What is green space worth? by Jason Byrne, Griffith University Parks aren’t just for looking at. philip bouchard Recent patterns of residential development in Australian cities are threatening to overwhelm green space in our urban cores. Policies of urban consolidation have concentrated medium to high density residential development in inner ring suburbs where green space is comparatively scarce. And the zoning ...
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IPWEA's Yardstick used to demonstrate efficiency and quality of services

By Chris Champion posted 12-08-2011
The City of Onkaparinga was asked to demonstrate efficiency and quality of program delivery in parks, recreation and other service areas. This article talks about how they used IPWEA's Yardstick benchmarking program to provide this evidence and guidance to further improvements. Article by Andrew Smith appearing in Australasian Parks & Leisure magazine, Winter 2011
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Regional Conference

By IPWEA National posted 15-11-2010
Following on from our successful introduction of the one day Regional Conferences earlier this year, we are pleased to announce that we will be again conducting these informative seminars and networking events. The level of support has been encouraging with our sponsors including Westrac again coming on board. We have spread the dates for the forthcoming year and in an effort to provide ample planning and opportunity the dates and locations ...
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