By Corey Everitt
Officer District Park which aims to be the new heart of the town will fittingly have the name of ‘Torongo’ Park meaning ‘heart’ in the Bunurong language.
Cardinia Shire Council officially endorsed the name in the latest council meeting on Monday 19 August.
This follows a community engagement period deciding between six names all drawn in collaboration with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and local Koori Kids.
‘Torongo’ (meaning heart in the Bunurong language) Park came out as the most popular against the five others which were; ‘Kar Din Yarr’ (look to the rising sun), ‘Ngerwin’ (the Sun/sunshine/sunny), ‘Djeembana’ (a place to meet), ‘Karrbul Mile’ (high hill), ‘Karrbul Biik’ (high land/vantage point).
“This park is a heart, our heart and a very fitting name for a connected future for all,“ Cr Davies.
Torongo Park is currently under construction through Stage 1 of its masterplan, the 10 hectares of land will be Cardinia’s next major park, purposed to serve on a regional level for 15,000 to 25,000 people.
Once Stage 1 is 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.
Future work will add a regional-level skate park, mountain boarding tracks and a cafe.
The $7.2 million project received $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 park is set to open with its new name later this year.
