FAQs

The two smaller playgrounds at George Burnett Park are at the end of their life so the City is replacing them with a larger playground as part of its 2026/27 capital works program.

The new playground will cater for all ages, be located near the Manning Bike Track and will include a new shade sail over the playground equipment.

While the exact location of the playground will be dependent on the final design and features, it will be located approximately between the skatepark and the rugby fields, near the Manning Bike Track.

We don’t know yet exactly what the new playground will look like. First we’d like to hear from current and future George Burnett Park users and we’ll use the feedback to develop a draft design for the playground together with the City’s Asset Management Strategy 2025-2035 (External link), industry guidelines, and other considerations such as budget. We’ll then show the draft design to the community and take feedback on it.

$625,000 has been allocated for the playground which is one of the City’s major projects for the 2026/27 financial year, helping to deliver on the community’s vision for active spaces and beautiful places. This budget allocation includes the removal of the two old playgrounds.

The City expects the new playground will be installed and open to the community in mid-2027. 

The current playgrounds will be removed at the same time as the new playground is being installed.

We'll provide updates here on Your Say South Perth as the project progresses, or alternatively you can sign up for project updates by email.

Upgrading the current outdoor basketball court (quarter court) is not part of the playground project, but if you have any comments about this, please provide them in the ‘Do you have any other comments’ section of the survey.

The City is aware that basketball is popular and acknowledges there is an existing undersupply of basketball facilities. The City will consider the provision of basketball facilities if sufficient project funding becomes available in the future.

The City carries out annual playground safety inspections and condition assessments. This information is used to inform the Asset Management Strategy, (External link) which prioritises playground renewals and replacements based on age, safety, condition and demand.

The City does not seek community input on every playground upgrade project. Whether the City engages depends on a number of factors, including the condition of the equipment, type of park or reserve where the play space is located, how widely it is used and the budget available. Playground upgrades are also guided by the City’s Asset Management Strategy (External link).

Nature play equipment uses components that are manufactured from natural products and are preferably irregularly shaped, including logs (timber), marine rope, rocks and water.  While equipment made of timber and marine rope has many benefits, it also requires greater maintenance and doesn’t last as long, often making it a more expensive and less sustainable option. The City uses some natural play elements where appropriate, along with metal and plastic elements.

Playgrounds in the City are designed to last for approximately 30 years, to provide value for money and a more sustainable service. The City generally favours metal and plastic play elements as they last the longest and are recycled at the end of the playground’s life.

Sand and/or mulch is preferred to rubber flooring as it stays shock-absorbent for much longer. The City’s playgrounds are designed to last for approximately 30 years to provide value for money and a more sustainable playground. Rubber softfall has a useful life of only 8-10 years before it needs to be replaced and disposed of in land fill. Rubber costs 3.5 times more than sand softfall.

Sand softfall can be topped up and cleaned for the life of the play equipment. Sand softfall is also a play element.

Mulch softfall can be used around natural play elements, and under trees where mulch allows the incorporation of natural leaf and branch drop.

From the end of August 2026, residents and park users may have noticed sand and soil being delivered and stockpiled at the park.

The natural material, known as clean fill, is being reused from the Coode Street foreshore riverbank restoration project to help with the construction of the new playground.

Reusing suitable soil and natural material across City projects is a sustainable and cost-effective approach that reduces waste and the need to source and transport new material. Similar clean fill has previously been reused in other City projects, including the Manning Bike Track.

The City of South Perth is working towards a more inclusive and accessible approach for all play spaces and playgrounds, as identified in the City’s Asset Management Strategy (External link), which includes ‘access for all’ as a key principle - to encourage access for all within community facilities, including specific population groups, such as people with disabilities, the elderly and juniors. The City’s Access and Inclusion Plan 2022-2027 (External link) also informs our play spaces, playgrounds and accessible design elements.

Where possible, the City will endeavour to install features that allow all people to play on the equipment.

Ask us a question and we’ll either answer you on the project page or email you directly.

Phone 9474 0777 and ask to speak to someone about the new playground or make a request on the City's website (External link).