Although there is some planting and path work to complete this month, 80 per cent of the first stage was opened on Christmas Eve, Corangamite Shire councillor Ruth Gstrein said. 

The playground is the redevelopment of the existing Apex Park on the Princes Highway.

It incorporates a flying fox, cricket nets, a basketball half-court, workout stations, an enclosed play area for young children, picnic and barbecue areas.

“Barbecue shelters are now operational and getting a lot of use,” Cr Gstrein said.

‘‘The gym playground and flying fox area are also complete and proving popular.” She said council had planned for an earlier launch of the play space, however it was great to see tourists and locals now enjoying the facility.

“We’ve been trying to get the project going for the last few months but we just had such a wet spring that we couldn’t get into the site to do drainage work.”

Cr Gstrein said it was hoped the park would become a “destination playground” for visitors as well as a community gathering place for locals.

‘‘There is a lot of excitement among younger folks and pleasingly when I drive past there is a lot of people who have stopped to use the park.”

The first stage cost $265,000 which was made up of funding from council, state government, Uebergang Foundation, The Jones Foundation, Camperdown Lions Club, Bendigo Bank and volunteers donating their time. 

She said once stage one was fully complete there would be an official event to thank the volunteers for their hard work.

The playground will be completed in four stages and is expected to cost $625,000. 

Stage two will include an intermediate play area with volcanic mound and slides, stage three will be the senior facilities which includes shifting the basketball court and stage four will involve creating car parking and other works.