South Burnett Council reveals $36 million plan for Kingaroy’s Memorial Park and swimming pool

A yarning circle, ceremonial area and bush tucker garden are among several interlocking ‘precincts’ proposed in South Burnett Regional Council’s newly draft Master Plan for the development of Kingaroy’s Memorial Park and the adjacent swimming pool.

The Council is seeking feedback from residents about the draft plan, produced by the Otium Planning Group, before a final version is prepared.

Otium began working on the report earlier this year by holding a number of consultations with community organisations that use the park or pool.

The leading consultancy also assessed 671 community survey responses the Council received about the project, and drew on the South Burnett’s current demographic data and forecast future changes in population size and age to ensure any redesign would meet community needs.

Projections suggest that the completed project could cost up to $35.5 million - $27.3 million for the aquatic centre and $8.2 million for the remainder of the park. However, the project could be developed in stages over a number of years as funding became available.

Memorial Park
The draft proposes retaining a number of Memorial Park’s existing features including the War Memorial and rotunda, existing pathways and children’s play area.

It also proposes widening the drainage channel that bisects the park and converting it into a gravelled walking trail with raised ‘tree islands’ that would be crossed by several timber bridges, including one wide enough for vehicles.

The upgraded park would have a number of other features including:

• Recognition of the region’s Indigenous, European and pioneering history

• A permanent powered stage and multi-purpose amenities block for outdoor concerts

• A Play Precinct for children aged under 12 with a water play creek and hand pump; all-abilities play equipment and sensory play; a nature play area within the dry creek bed; and a children’s Yarning Circle

• A Youth Activity precinct for young people aged 12 or above with a multi-purpose hardcourt, ‘ninja warrior’ adventure course, ‘chill out’ nodes, ball games rebound wall, youth parkour facilities and boulders

• An Indigenous precinct with a ‘gathering place’, interpretative sculpture, a ceremonial space and a bush tucker garden

• A botanical precinct featuring local plants

• Sheltered picnic nodes with barbecues and seating around the park’s perimeter

• A Heritage walk with a new avenue of trees

• Improved parking on William and Haly streets

WJ Lang Memorial Pool
For the swimming pool, the report recommends retaining the 50 metre outdoor pool but adding:

• An indoor warm water pool

• Adventure slides and adjacent water play area

• A reception kiosk / café, office and retail area

• Outdoor dining options at poolside and park side

• Community rooms and amenities

Consultation Sessions
The Council will be opening the office next to the Kingaroy Library in Glendon Street for residents to see what the draft looks like and discuss their reaction to it with Council staff and Otium Planning Group personnel, with consultation sessions to be held on a series of dates through November (starting as of today) with a final consultation session to be held at the WJ Lang Memorial Pool in Alford Street on Tuesday 13th December, between 1:00pm and 3:00pm.

Images: A yarning circle, ceremonial area and bush tucker garden is one of several interlocking “precincts” proposed in the Memorial Park Master Plan (top), a lnked play areas for children and youths would offer a variety of recreation options that parents could supervise from nearby shaded rest areas (middle) and the W.J. Lang Pool would retain its existing 50m pool, but gain an undercover heated pool, water slides and updated facilities (below). All graphics courtesy of SBRC.