The community were invited to provide feedback in March 2022 on the location for a significant upgrade and what play elements, equipment and amenities they would like to see included. Following this, feedback was analysed and preliminary sketch plans were developed for further community feedback in November 2022.

Banambila Street playground is being upgraded with key features including:

• nature play area with balancing, climbing and Ngunnawal cultural play elements
• junior fort with slide and climbing elements.
• shade sail with cultural artwork on the posts.
• seating area with a shelter and picnic table.
• fitness station for adults and seniors.
• concrete path to improve access.
• new trees and landscaping.

The ACT Government is committed to delivering better play spaces across Canberra and providing people of different ages and abilities with fun, creative and engaging play experiences.

The community were invited to provide feedback on a significant upgrade to the Banambila Street playground including play elements, equipment and amenities as well as safety and accessibility.

During the first round of feedback we learned there was support for nature play upgrades, seating improvements and climbing structures.

Feedback received during engagement on this project assisted in developing and then finalising designs ahead of construction procurement for the significant upgrade to the Banambila Street playground.

If you have any questions about this project or would like to be kept updated on its progress, please email communityengagement@act.gov.au.

What you told us you’d like to see

• Amenities: furniture for sitting, eating, or studying; shade trees and shade sails; picnic shelters and improvements to paths and access.
• Play equipment/elements: nature play; climbing structures; swinging equipment; all abilities play equipment; a basketball hoop and fitness or multi-use equipment.

How we have used your feedback

• Central nature play area with balancing, climbing and Ngunnawal cultural play elements.
• Junior fort with slide and climbing elements.
• Concrete path to improve access.
• Shade sail with cultural artwork on the posts.
• Seating area with a shelter and picnic table.
• Fitness station for adults and seniors.

Click here to see a full-screen version of the final indicative design.

The region where the Aranda play space upgrade is located holds an ancient cultural and spiritual connection to the Ngunnawal people and has for thousands of years. The Ngunnawal landscape around Galambary/Black Mountain was abundant in native orchids, daisies, lilies and native fauna. One of the well-known native daisies is the Yam Daisy, referred to as Dharaban. The daisy has been harvested by Ngunnawal women and children for thousands of years and is used by the Ngunnawal people as a staple to create damper, native tea and to aid healing wounds.

The artwork for Aranda, by artist and cultural consultant Bradley Mapiva Brown, reflects these connections to country to Dharaban, Galambary and the Molonglo River. Bagariin Ngunnawal Cultural Consulting provided several recommendations to showcase the play space Yam Daisy theme. Recommendations included in the play space design are:

• artwork wrapped on the shade sail posts
• a climbing net which symbolises the carrying bags and baskets used to collect food resources
• a wombat burrow play tunnel for toddlers
• artwork in the pathway
• nature play elements.