Works have officially begun on the new multi-million-dollar Officer District Park, which will provide more outdoor activities for the fast-growing Officer township and surrounds.
Pakenham MP Emma Vulin, La Trobe Federal MP Jason Wood and Cardinia Shire Council mayor Tammy Radford officially turned the sod on Tuesday 10 October marking the start of works on the Officer District Park development.
Once completed, the park will include a multi-level adventure play space, fitness zone, a lookout, wetlands and boardwalk for locals and visitors to enjoy the outdoors, while new picnic facilities and public amenities will offer opportunities to stop and rest.
Ms Vulin said the park will be essential for the local area.
“This wonderful new park in Officer will provide lots of opportunities for the local community to socialise, play and connect, while enjoying the benefits of a more active lifestyle,” Ms Vulin said.
“Investing in projects like Officer District Park is about building more liveable neighbourhoods and better-connected communities in Victoria’s fastest growing areas.”
The $7.2 million project is receiving $2.2 million from the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund, $4.6 million from the council and $435,000 from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and is being delivered by the council.
The Growing Suburbs Fund is a $435 million investment over nine years purposed to provide critical infrastructure in Melbourne’s diverse and fast-growing outer suburbs.
Since 2015, the fund has invested more than $35 million into 22 projects in the Cardinia Shire Council area, including the Kooweerup Bowls and Community Hub, the Cardinia Cultural Centre Redevelopment and the Comely Banks Recreation Reserve Pavilion.
Through the 2023/24 Budget, the State Government added another $10 million to Growing Suburbs Fund to support the delivery of critical local infrastructure in Melbourne’s fastest-growing communities, as part of an $18.9 million investment to support suburbs across the city with a range of initiatives.
The latest round of the Growing Suburbs Fund is currently open.
To find out more, visit suburbandevelopment.vic.gov.au/grants.
