City of Stirling Parks and Open Space Asset Managment Plan

5.3.2.1 Irrigation and playground future renewal and replacement expenditure Irrigation The City currently has in place a 25 year rolling program to replace the City’s reticulation systems, based on an annual budget of $2.5 million. A reduction in this renewal budget will increase the age at which the reticulation systems are replaced, extending out the 25-year program and resulting in lower levels of service and increased operational expenditure. Playgrounds In the 2017 customer satisfaction survey, the issues raised by residents included the upkeep of parks and gardens, and the maintenance and replacement of park equipment and playgrounds. The City has a high percentage of playground equipment grouped by site in condition 4 and a

Scenario one Historical funding of $330,000 per annum – maximum total 20-year spend is $6.6 million Scenario two Increased funding to $550,000 per annum – maximum total 20-year spend is $11 million Scenario three Unlimited funding – total 20-year spend is $18 million. Figure 5.3.2.1 below, shows the condition scores and the funding distribution of the playgrounds sites against each of the three scenarios over 20 years.

number of sites turning from condition 3 to condition 4. This indicates that the renewal of playground site has been underfunded in the past. Although the City received high performance scores for the provision of parks and reserves in the 2017 customer satisfaction survey, the City will need to be diligent with its playground renewal program to assist in maintaining this high performance score for future years. condition 4, but with limited funding, the renewals of some playgrounds are deferred. While the renewals of some playgrounds are being deferred, the playgrounds in condition 3 are moving to condition 4. The City has modelled the future condition of the City playgrounds based on the below three different funding scenarios for the replacement of playgrounds over a 20-year period: The City programs playground replacements when they reach

3.6M 3.3M 3.0M 2.7M 2.4M 2.1M 1.8M 1.5M 1.2M 0.9M 0.6M 0.3M

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$330k historical budget cost $330k historical budget score $550k historical budget score Unlimited budget score $550k historical budget cost Unlimited budget cost Year

Figure 5.3.2.1 Playground equipment by site funding scenario year level comparison

increases, but the total 20-year spend is $18 million, with almost $3.5 million required to be spent in the first year. This PAMP recommends scenario two, with a replacement budget of $550,000 per year which maintains the overall condition of the playgrounds between condition 2 and 3 and ensures the City’s playgrounds are not under-serviced or over-serviced.

At scenario one, the above graph shows that if the City continues with the historical playground renewal funding of $330,000 per annum, there will be a decline in the overall condition of the City’s playgrounds, and that at $330,000 per annum, the playground renewal program is not sufficient to maintain current levels of service. At scenario three, the overall condition of the city’s playground

Parks Asset Management Plan 2018 – 2028 | 39