The much awaited and long promised playground for children who live and visit in the Mallee has finally been completed.

Originally suggested as part of the housing redevelopment in the Mallee in 2003, the project stalled for whatever reason.

Funding was then made available in 2010 for the construction. A bit over 12 months ago the “Save The Children” organisation took on the project. The first step was to have a suitable piece of land set aside. There were a few stumbling blocks with land ownership and the physical layout of land title in the Mallee however Central Darling Shire Council have agreed to gift the land to the Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council.

The builders, who were from Brisbane, were still packing their tools away as the first of the kids descended on the new equipment.

The cost of the playground and seating was around $85,000.

Photo: Knomi Johnson enjoys the slippery dip