Inside how we keep the Coast at play
Every day, Sunshine Coast playgrounds and recreation areas come alive with the sounds of children playing, the bounce of basketballs and happy barks of dogs. Behind this vibrant community life is a dedicated team of Council workers, quietly ensuring our outdoor spaces remain safe and welcoming.
Many might not know that Council teams care for almost 1100 hectares of parklands and reserves – equivalent to almost 1500 football fields.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to keep our playgrounds, dog parks and recreation equipment in top condition? Come behind the scenes and spend a day with our Parks Infrastructure Maintenance team.
Morning routine: early starts and daily briefings
Meet Jason, Jon and Hayden, key members from Council’s Parks Infrastructure Maintenance team. Their day begins early at a Council Depot for a daily briefing and to plan out scheduled maintenance, inspections and a safety briefing.
As part of their role the team is responsible for inspecting and maintaining more than 370 playgrounds around the Sunshine Coast.
Jason is inspecting and making repairs to a playground swing at the depot workshop ready to install at a local park.
First task: Inspections and repairs
The team arrives at Federation Park, Palmwoods, popular with locals for the large grassy area, picnic shelter, playground and fenced dog-off-leash area. The team begins their inspections with the fenced dog-off-leash area – checking the gate latch and dog agility equipment for safety.
Moving on to the exercise equipment, Hayden and Jason inspect every screw and then test the equipment.
“Whilst this might look like all fun and games, testing equipment is a vital part of our safety and compliance inspections,” Hayden said.
Next stop, the barbecue and picnic shelter where Jason explains that he checks the table and bench seat timber slats to ensure they are secure and tightly bolted to the ground. He is also looking for graffiti and damage to the shelter.
“We inspect the condition of the barbecues and then the security of the locks,” Jason said.
“We spend over 5000 hours a year maintaining our playgrounds and any issues discovered are often repaired on the spot.
“However, sometimes we escalate the issue to another team for expert repair. For example, an electricion would look after the barbecue electrical functions.”
Over to the playground, Jason immediately inspects the swings chains and ‘S’ hooks and tests for potential finger entrapment and checks bolts for tightness.
“I use a small tool to test each part of the chain – we are looking to prevent injury and ensure compliance. And again, we have a bit of fun and test the equiment ourselves,” Jason said.
Lunch time: A brief respite
The team enjoys a short lunch break in a shady area, sharing stories and appreciating the beauty of their work environment.
“How lucky are we to live and work in the most beautiful spot in the world?” Jon said.
They might be a small team, but they share a strong bond, fuelled by their shared passion for maintaining the community’s playgrounds and recreation areas.
Afternoon duties
We arrive at Flintwood Crescent Park, Palmview which has a large playground, flying fox, learn-to-ride track and half basketball court.
After a quick chat with local park-goers the team begins safety and compliance assessments of the flying fox and swings.
Quick repairs to the basket swing and flying fox ensure everything is safe and ready for playground users to enjoy immediately.
They take the time to carefully inspect the playground for graffiti, and when satisfied all is in order, the team moves over to inspect the basketball court and fenced dog exercise area.
Back to the Depot
The day comes to an end and the team returns to the Council Depot to finalise the day’s tasks and make preparations for the next exciting day ahead.
“The best part of my work is being out in the community and seeing people enjoying our playgrounds and parks,” Hayden said.
“It’s a rewarding job knowing we are keeping our playgrounds safe and ready for everyone to experience.
Work experience program for outdoor loving high school students
A five-day work experience program is now open to students in Years 10, 11 and 12 looking to obtain on-the job skills and experience with the Council Parks and Gardens Branch across six fields.
The program allows students to gain practical experience in a parks and gardens operational environment within key career fields, including:
- horticulture
- arboriculture
- turf and irrigation
- nursery operations
- infrastructure maintenance
- administration.
For more information, check out the work experience video on Council’s YouTube site, or visit the careers page on Council’s website.