City of Nedlands playgrounds, including Charles Court Reserve, to remain closed for years amid budget issues
It could take up to three years for three key playgrounds in Nedlands to reopen as the new council tries to find funds to bring the playgrounds up to code.
Playing fields at Charles Court Reserve, Melvista Park and Hollywood Tennis Reserve will remain fenced for the foreseeable future until immediate renovation or replacement work is completed.
Playgrounds were closed in February after an explosive review of the City of Nedlands found the local authority was at financial crisis point.
The report details a significant backlog of delayed and under-resourced infrastructure renovations estimated to cost $24 million to undertake.
About 30 percent of playgrounds in the city are in “poor” or “very poor” condition.
Charles Court Reserve, Melvista Park, and Hollywood Tennis Reserve in particular were identified as having direct safety and compliance concerns and were promptly closed.
The fourth playground at Harris Park was also closed.
But a $71,000 redevelopment of the playground had already been approved at the time and was scheduled to reopen by the end of the month.
That challenge was compounded in March when the city’s 2024-25 midyear budget review reported a $3.8 million shortfall; this was a significant departure from last year’s surplus estimate of $1.27 million.
A City of Nedlands spokesman said the council would work to redevelop and reopen one in three playgrounds each year as part of a $2.6 million playground regeneration programme.
Under the policy, funding is expected to come from a combination of cash and city reserves rather than municipal funds, public open space contributions.
To fund the 20-year project — on top of a backlog of other asset maintenance and renovation work — the city says it must spend an additional $8 million in capital expenditures each year for the next three years, increasing annual capital works spending from $10 million to $18 million.
The newly elected council, which holds its first regular meeting in mid-April, will need to decide how to provide additional funding.
Mayor Leonie Browner said the 2025/26 budget would be considered by the council later in the year.
