Bourke Park funding welcomed

The announcement was made by Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent at the park on Monday 23 May.

Council will receive $136,950 from Round Two of the Safer Streets Programme to rejuvenate the park with landscaping, a new path, path lighting and an area designed to accommodate food trucks with access to water and electricity.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Cr Jodie Owen said the funding would allow Council to do more work to ensure the park was a safe and welcoming place.

“We have already done a lot of work in the park to make it a vibrant public space for the community to enjoy and this funding will allow us to continue. We want people to feel free to enjoy themselves in areas like Bourke Park,” she said.

“On behalf of Cardinia Shire residents, I’d like to thank the Australian Government for recognising the importance of improving Bourke Park by providing this funding.”

Council undertook a major redevelopment of the park in 2014 which included the installation of two playgrounds, two shelters with picnic settings, an automated toilet block and two barbecues, as well as additional seating, improved lighting, footpaths and landscaping. The goal of the project was to encourage more use by families and to improve community pride in the park. The Bourke Park revitalisation project was funded by Council and a $250,000 grant from the Victorian Government’s Public Safety Infrastructure Fund.

“This project significantly changed and diversified the use of the park. Having more residents using the park has provided greater passive surveillance to be a deterrent for anti-social behaviour; we want to continue that work,” Cr Owen said.

“It is important that visitors to Pakenham and Bourke Park are presented with a fun and lively space where residents enjoy spending time with family and friends.”