This month Rooney Earthmoving has been busy stripping topsoil, backfilling with the local river run, compacting the area with a roller and trenching, and installing drains under the Flying Fox area.
The earthworks will mitigate drainage, stabilize the ground for the surface and foundations and help to make the surfaces easier to use for those in wheelchairs, etc...
A set-out survey was completed in April. This was an integral part of the preparation for the playground's construction work. Rooney Earthmoving surveyed the site and used our working drawings to transfer the plan onto the land. It is critical to set out the exact positions of the paths and equipment so that the "fall zones" of play equipment do not overlap, and the specific safety surfacing is in the correct places.
The next step is for our playground safety auditor to visit the site. They will use the "set out" markings on the ground to double-check that the position of paths and equipment meets best safety practices. Having these checks throughout the project, rather than just at the end, enable us to remedy any issues and make improvements without causing hold-ups or inefficiencies in the construction schedule.
At the moment our construction team is doing the preparation work to construct the concrete curbs. As well as a tidy way to finish the edges, the curbs set the finished height for the final surface. Once the Kerbs are in place the construction team will be able to use this level when preparing the other surfaces and installing equipment.
Here are some photo's taken by our CPlay volunteer Roselyn Fauth, showing some of the progress made so far.