Govt playground cost now at $3 million
THE bill to construct the controversial Myilly Point playground precinct has blown out to $3m
Northern Territory
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- NT taxpayers fork out $1.1 million for Myilly Point playground asbestos hole
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THE bill to construct the controversial Myilly Point playground precinct has blown out to $3m and the NT government cannot guarantee it will not increase more.
The site, which is more than 12 months behind schedule, is still very much a muddy construction site but structural parts of the promised precinct are starting to take shape and work is now predicted to be finished by the end of March “weather permitting”.
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Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler put the lengthy delay down to the large amount of asbestos found on the site, which is at the corner of Smith Street and Cullen Bay Boulevard. The project’s original contract was for $2.7m and $1.1m of that was spent to dig a containment cell hole in the designated project carpark to bury the contaminated asbestos soil.
Despite the delay, Ms Lawler says the end result will be an asset to families and young people in the community. She said talks were still ongoing with members of the Stolen Generation of the Kahlin Compound to meet the government’s pledge that the works will acknowledge the history and cultural significance of the site.
“Those talks are making good progress,” she said.
The precinct will include youth and adventure play zones giving families and the wider community cool and active spaces to enjoy.
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The youth zone will comprise a basketball half court, skate area, tropical landscaping and power and water services. The adventure play zone will have options for shaded play equipment, active climbing areas, balance beams and eating areas.
When the Myilly Point precinct was announced it had additons of walking and running tracks with 1km and 1.6km options. However these have disappeared.
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