Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard has announced Ipswich Special School has a new $180,000 play space for its senior students built along the lines of a safe ‘Ninja-warrior’ arena.
Ms Howard said a further $495,000 has been invested at nearby Raceview State School to refurbish two of its existing outdoor learning areas.
“In terms of the Ipswich Special School funding, I am over the moon with the support the Government has provided to this fantastic school with funding to support these kids who require accessible play equipment.
“Ipswich Special School has been a part of this community since 1901, providing quality education to support children and their families living with disability for almost 119 years.
“These projects have been designed to meet modern standards for outdoor play and the projects have delivered three state-of-the-art, but very different, playing areas,” Ms Howard said.
“The Ipswich ‘Ninja’ style play area is an all-inclusive playground that will enable all of the school’s upper years’ students to play together regardless of their needs or ability.
“It’s critical that children with disabilities have the play equipment they need and it’s so heartening to see them happily using this fantastic equipment.
“This area was designed by playground design group Urban Play for students in wheelchairs and students with mobility challenges.”
“It includes musical pipes, push-up bars, a chalkboard, a tipi carousel, climbing equipment, a free-runner, a sand pathway, rubber soft-fall and a rubber mound cable-way – very exciting equipment that will appeal to both Ipswich Special School’s younger and older students.
“I’d like to thank Variety – The Children’s Charity and Blue Dog Training for kindly contributing $40,000 to support the Ipswich Special School outdoor area, while the State Government contributed $129,000 and the school contributed $7,800 towards the project.
“Also, who could forget the wonderful staff supporting these students – I’m such a big supporter of the work they do day-in day-out,” Ms Howard said
Ms Howard said that two projects at Raceview State School had recently delivered refurbished outdoor learning areas.
“The first project is an upgraded playground with new accessible play equipment suitable for Years 1-6 for the Special Education Program – it includes artificial turf, a nature play area, rubber soft-fall, additional shade, a sensory board, sandstone seating, concrete paths and a sandpit, plus some new fencing.
“The second project delivered updates to the entry of the school and the Prep play area – including tiered sandstone blocks, shelter, artificial turf, amphitheatre and timber stage, alphabet log steppers, two yarning circles, chalk board with concrete seating, suspended balancing beams and log entry statement with school logo.
“These areas were designed and constructed by Oasis Landscaping.”
“The Government has contributed over $620,000 for these projects, part of an overall record $1.46 billion education infrastructure investment in 2019–20, which is helping to drive the Queensland economy by supporting an estimated 4800 full-time jobs.”
