Artist reveals whale of a plan for Logans Beach

A life-size whale statue and a nature-based playground at Logans Beach is the latest proposal to join the Pick My Project campaign.

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The $200,000 vision of Warrnambool Art Shack teacher Kate Cherrett would see the popular tourist haunt east of the Hopkins River undergo a facelift, including year-round facilities for youngsters.

Playground plan: Kate Cherrett, Jessica Beca-Cherrett and David Higgins are behind a proposal for a nature-based playground at Logans Beach together with a life-size whale calf statue. Picture: Christine Ansorge

The concept is one of several submitted as part of the state government’s Pick My Project initiative that is offering $30 million to fund local projects.

Projects can cost anything between $20,000 and $200,000.

The Logans Beach project plan features an amphitheatre, rock escarpment, water play area, wet and dry sandpits, slides and swings, monkey bars, balance beams and two climbing frames.

Mrs Cherrett said the design would represent the mammal that visits the area annually.

“One of the climbing frames would be made of rope, the other a large log frame that loosely represents a mother whale in shape and size, with a rope net under the whole length for climbing over and exploring under,” she said.

Visitors would be welcomed to the playground by a fibreglass sculpture of a whale calf by local artist David Higgins.

Vision: Ms Cherrett and daughter Jessica Beca-Cherrett have created a photo-shop image of the nature-based playground proposed for Warrnambool's Logans Beach.

“The sculpture’s purpose would be two-fold, while it would serve as an education piece in its own right, it would also provide a lead into the park with visitors being draw to the life size sculpture and information, the nature playground in full view behind,” Mrs Cherrett said.

Mrs Cherrett hopes the additional features to the area would become accessible to visitors year-round.

“Having an all-ages playground that was protected from the prevailing winds would mean that tourists and locals alike would be more likely to stay longer, making it a hotspot for gatherings and connections to be formed along with a greater chance of the visitors spotting a whale the longer they stay at the nursery,” she said.

“Add this to the local coffee van that frequents the site during the whale season and you have a very attractive outdoor space for people to be during the winter months.”

With voting for Great South Coast developments closing August, Mrs Cherrett said it was imperitive Warrnambool made a stand.

“We need to get a share of the governments $2 million or it will just go to other communities in Victoria.”