CPlay demonstrated wonderful collaboration between a passionate community group, mana whenua, Council, and a range of stakeholders and communities… . good practice and a model that could potentially be replicated. The project utilised cultural inclusion, accessibility and inclusivity, and processes to support these, that could be used as an example for some future projects.” Bill Steans TDC Parks Manager

We improved practices and efficiencies in this space via:

• collaboration with mana whenua and the community,
• the partnerships involved in project delivery,
• A passionate, voluntary committee,
• Timaru District Council,
• A joint steering group involving CPlay, District Council and a shared project manager,
• A charitable trust,
• And professional contractors/playground specialists.

The community working for and with the community

The CPlay team, formed when chair Owen Jackson called for volunteers, were local parents and grandparents with no experience with playgrounds. We had diverse and relevant skillsets, and being locals, many community contacts.

CPlay decided early to bring the community along for the journey. Before we fundraised, we engaged mana whenua, who provided a representative, and engaged many people across health, disability, education, families, sports, aged care, early childhood, service clubs, art and history. Our motivation to engage these groups was to improve the project – not to fundraise. Separating community engagement from fundraising, gained trust, achieved widespread community buy-in and enriched design. Engagement on design was invaluable.

Collaborative Partnership for Project Delivery

The collaboration of voluntary, local government, charitable, and private sectors enabled a level of success that could not have been achieved individually. Having communication and consultation, concept design and fundraising, fronted by volunteers enabled freer and more comfortable engagement and fundraising support than might have been garnered by an economic or ratepayer driven body. Volunteers could take more time listening to the community and scrutinizing design then paid bodies could justify. Having a respected charitable trust support the project by receiving funds ensured transparency and trust with donors, and also lifted responsibilities off volunteers – enabling focus on community input and design. The District Council supporting as a principal sponsor, and with contract and payment management, maximised their skills and strengths, ensured transparency with contractors and freed volunteers. A skilled project manager representing CPlay and Council, and a joint steering committee, clearly set roles and responsibilities and controlled construction phase delivery. Volunteers passing conceptual design, landscape and surfacing works to specialist contractors ensured quality, playground safety and design requirements were met.