Playground replaced at Reotahi in time for the school holidays

The red and white stripes on the new playground match the Marsden Point oil refinery's chimneys in the distance. Photo/Michael Cunningham

Children in the Whangārei Heads area have been treated to a new playground just in time for the school holidays.

The old playground on Norfolk Ave in Reotahi has been replaced with a shiny new one as part of Whangārei District Council's renewal process.

Council parks technical officer Spencer Jellyman said work to install the new playground finished about a week ago, after five weeks of work.

Jellyman said the council consulted with children in the area over the new design.

He went to Whangārei Heads School last year, armed with four different designs submitted by different companies keen to do the job.

Jellyman talked to three or four different classrooms of students, who then chose the design which was built.

The design features swings, a climbing tower, monkey bars, a big slide and more.

"The red and white tower is supposed to match the chimneys on the refinery site."

The Marsden Point oil refinery is directly across the Whangārei Harbour from the playground.

He said the playground will suit children up to 12 years.

"It's a beautiful location looking over the sea there."

Jellyman said he thought the playground would be well used "with the school so close and especially while it's new".

He said the contractor had told the council that when they were taking the fences down from around the playground at the end of its construction, there were some children lined up waiting to have a go.

Jellyman said the new playground cost $70,000.

He said the council renews its playgrounds around every 15 years as they get "tired" and "cost more to retain" and the Reotahi playground was due for renewal.

Jellyman said the new playground was similar to the old one, but slightly bigger and had some new parts.

"The big slide is something they haven't had before."

Earlier this year, the council revealed plans to build a new playground at Pohe Island and refurbish the existing one at the Whangārei Town Basin.

It sought feedback from the community via a survey on the sorts of things they would like to see in the playground designs.

At the time, it said construction on both playgrounds would take place during the 2019/20 financial year.