Wonthaggi’s new estates become a green desert for kids

A LARGE expanse of public land in Wonthaggi’s Northern Views Estate, bordering Summerfields Estate, is sitting largely unused, prompting growing calls for it to be transformed into a long-awaited playground and recreational space.

Known as O’Connor Park, the reserve is currently little more than a broad grass paddock with a scattering of trees and concrete footpaths, despite being surrounded by one of Wonthaggi’s fastest-growing residential areas.

Hundreds of families have moved into the new estates and nearby older streets over the past decade, with parents saying the lack of a local playground has left children with nowhere nearby to run off endless energy.

The closest playground is Causen Reserve on Gordon Street, which parents argue is too small and doesn’t cater to a range of ages.

The walk to Causen Reserve also requires navigating busy local collector roads, two of which have no footpaths, a task parents say is too dangerous for young children on bikes or scooters.

Residents say Summerfields, Northern Views and even Vicars estates have grown rapidly over the past decade, but the recreational infrastructure has failed to keep pace.

“O’Connor Park is inadequate for the level of population it serves,” said one concerned mother of two young children.

“It’s just a giant grass field, crying out to become a proper community park. There’s so little there that even unstructured play is barely feasible.

“We’d love to see a good, old-fashioned local park with swings, slides and diverse play equipment suitable for children of all ages and abilities. At the moment, there’s nowhere close where the kids can safely ride their bikes or scooters or just meet up with friends and explore.”

Parents say they are not asking for extravagant facilities at huge costs, but rather a well-designed neighbourhood park that encourages outdoor play and community.

Suggestions include traditional playground equipment, a small BMX-style pump track for younger riders, a basketball court, barbecue facilities, picnic shelters, toilets and even a fitness station or two for those a little beyond monkey bars. According to locals, there would still be plenty of room to kick a football and fly a kite.

“The space is uninviting and [with the uncut grass] degrades the whole area,” another local mum said.

“Only yesterday I said to my son we’d have to wait until the grass is cut and then go and have a picnic and fly the frisbee.

“The contours of the land mean families can sit and watch as kids go off and play, now we just need the facilities to support people using the space.”

Families point to successful playgrounds elsewhere on Bass Coast as examples of what is missing, including Leongatha’s McIndoe Park and Inverloch’s Rainbow Park.

The community’s campaign comes at a critical turning point for the region as development continues in the Wonthaggi North-East Precinct, which will see the town expand from around 8000 residents to more than 20,000 over coming decades.

While the broader precinct includes plans for numerous parks and open spaces, residents fear North Wonthaggi has fallen through the cracks, with O’Connor Park remaining little more than open grass despite the surrounding residential growth.

Some have begun discussing petitions to encourage Bass Coast Shire Council to prioritise improvements to the reserve.

“Does anyone know how to start a petition to get a playground or a half-court built on the corner of Cavill Drive and Ash Grange in the Summerfields Estate in North Wonthaggi?” asked one concerned parent.

“Parklands Estate now has two play spaces while Summerfields has nothing.”

Another resident complained that Summerfields Estate never had a playground built, and it was definitely not in the estate plans.

“I’d support a playground at Northern Views Estate because there’s nothing there for the kids,” said another.

Community advocates are calling for an urgent review of developer contributions and open space allocations within the precinct.

They argue that council planning guidelines must enforce the immediate construction of parks alongside new housing stages, rather than treating recreational infrastructure as an afterthought.

Until those changes are made, children in North Wonthaggi remain confined to backyards and concrete driveways, waiting for a genuine place to play.