Construction of Livvi's Place begins
Construction of Australia's very first all abilities playground, right here in Sydney's inner west, has now commenced.
Livvi's Place at Timbrell Park in Five Dock is an initiative of founding partners City of Canada Bay, Touched by Olivia Foundation and Leighton Contractors, to construct the very first all abilities playground in Australia.
Creating a level playing field for children of all abilities, the founding partners have worked in consultation with leading playground experts, disability specialists, architects, playground and early childhood academics, and the local community to develop a design for the playground that is already being heralded as one of global best practice.
"Council has been working with Touched by Olivia on this project for some time and it’s exciting to see construction on the playground begin,” said City of Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas.
"On behalf of our local community I would like to thank the Touched by Olivia Foundation and also Leighton Contractors for their hard work and dedication in making this dream a reality."
Livvi’s Place has been designed to enable children and adults of all abilities and ages to play side-by-side on the same equipment, fostering integration of children with special needs.
"Since Touched by Olivia was established in 2006, our aims have been to bring health and happiness to kids and their families," said John Perkins, founder of the Touched by Olivia Foundation.
"Livvi’s Place has been purposely designed to enable children and families of all abilities to play together. The aim is to dramatically reduce the barriers experienced by children with special needs and their families, helping to give them a level playing field for life.
"Thanks to the support of business and the community, we've been able to raise over $250,000 to contribute to this project and with the significant contributions of Council and Leighton Contractors, it is fantastic to be able to deliver an innovative and iconic playground that promises to have a significant impact on many families," he said.
Leighton Contractors, one of Australia's leading contracting and development groups, is a founding partner in the project, providing a valuable in-kind contribution to oversee the playground delivery including playground design finalisation, subcontractor sourcing and management, and coordination of all onsite works during construction.
"Being involved in Livvi's Place has been a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to engaging with and enhancing the communities where we live and work," said Mike Metcalfe, General Manager NSW/ACT with Leighton Contractors.
"We're very proud to be a founding partner and to be able to do what we do best – deliver an outstanding and innovative initiative in partnership with the community."
Livvi's Place is a $1 million project. With significant community support, Touched by Olivia has raised $250,000 to contribute to the overall cost. The City of Canada Bay has committed over $500,000 in cash and in-kind contributions while Leighton Contractors is providing $160,000 worth of in-kind project management services. A number of other generous supporters and donors have helped make this project a reality.
Construction of Livvi's Place will be completed later this year. Sponsorship opportunities of play equipment in the playground are available and donations are welcome. 100% of all donations will go directly to the project. All donations of $2 or more will be gratefully received and are fully tax deductible.
For more information on the Touched By Olivia Foundation please visit www.touchedbyolivia.com.au.
