Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government, and Mark Arbib, Parliamentary Secretary for Government Service Delivery, have announced the Rudd Labor Government will offer $3.1 million towards a major upgrade of Speers Point Park on Lake Macquarie.

Senator Arbib made the announcement with the Member for Charlton, Greg Combet.

Through the Rudd Government's Economic Stimulus Plan, we are investing in major projects like this to support local jobs and economies during the global recession.

This is an innovative project to build the largest all-abilities playground in Australia, and deliver major upgrades to a park popular with tourists and local residents.

Not only will it deliver state-of-the art community infrastructure in Lake Macquarie but it will also cement the region's reputation as a family-oriented tourist destination.

Federal funding for this project is part of our $800 million Community Infrastructure Program - the largest one-off investment in local infrastructure in Australia's history.

Managed by the Lake Macquarie City Council, the project is expected to include:

 Construction of bicycle and wheelchair training circuit, double slides, space-nets and climbing structures, trampolines, bridges;

•  Installation of equipment such as swings, tunnels, flying-fox and climbing walls;


•  Construction of creative spaces - water play and sculpture maze;


•  Installation of soft-fall surface, picnic shelters, seating and picnic tables;


•  Construction of decks, ramps and step structures;


•  Manufacture and installation of specialised signage, sculptures and shade structures, accessible play items and an interactive stage area; and


•  Associated landscaping, including sensory landscaping elements.

Once complete, the playground will also be able to be used by physiotherapists and occupational therapists to train children and adults in how to control and manoeuvre a wheelchair.

The funding of stages two and three of the Speers Point Master Plan comes on top of other local projects in the Lake Macquarie region funded under the Rudd Government's Economic Stimulus Plan, such as:

•  Investment in community infrastructure, including $2.117 million for the upgrade of Regatta Foreshore Reserve and the extension of the Red Bluff shared pathway in Eleebana.


•  Construction and maintenance work on local schools, including $200,000 for refurbishment of covered student drop-off/pick-up area, pupil amenities, fencing and play areas at Belmont Christian College and $125,000 for refurbishment of school facilities at Booragul Public School.

Nearly 70 per cent of the stimulus package is infrastructure, with construction projects already underway. For more detail on the Economic Stimulus Plan visit www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au.