The enclosed children’s playground, which will adjoin the public barbecue facilities, will be finished by June as part of a church-run Work-for-the-Dole project.

Gateway Church pastor Tim Smock said the church had been running a Work for the Dole program, coordinated by Western District Employment Access, for the past two-and-a-half years.

The children’s playground is the latest project undertaken as part of the program.

“We really value these local partnerships and hope these spaces bless and connect local families,” Mr Smock said.

“We’re passionate about doing things that better the city of Warrnambool.”

Funding for the project has come from a number of south-west foundations including the Uebergang Foundation, Gwen & Edna Jones Foundation, Thomas O’Toole Foundation, Ern Hartley Foundation, Archie & Hilda Graham Foundation and AL Lane Foundation.

He said members of the community were welcome to use the playground and barbecue facilities which were only used by the church on Sundays and perhaps one other day during the week.