Upgrade to Albury's showpiece Murray River park wins support from patrons

The first stage of a $372,000 project to upgrade the Murray River drawcard was recently completed by Albury Council.

It included putting a fence around the playground, a new barbecue area, widening of the path used by bikes and pedestrians and concrete bases for more picnic tables.

A totem pole, which is the work of Indigenous artist Darren Wighton, has been installed with bands on it marking river flood levels.  

Killara mum Sarah Harris, who was at the park on Thursday with her three daughters and fellow former Wodonga Raiders netballers, appreciated the playground fence.

“You can just relax, you know the kids are in a safe enclosed area – you don’t have to worry about them running out on the road,” Mrs Harris said.

Albury’s Shanna Moss, who has boys aged 16 months and five weeks, was also thankful for the metal barrier.

“I like it, I think it’s great it’s fenced off – it’s a bit safer and everyone seems happy with it,” Ms Moss said.

Wodonga semi-retiree John Drummond visits five times a week with his pet dog Tasha and values the fence dividing canines from children.

“They used to run across the footpath and get in front of the dog and want to pat her,” Mr Drummond said.

“It’s really nice, you can sit down and relax and it’s really dog friendly.”

West Highland Terrier owners Loretta and Tony Caunt, of Wodonga, also welcomed the changes.

“It’s good with more benches and a better play area for the kids,” Mrs Caunt said.

Mr Caunt said the concrete bases for tables would reduce ants and make it easier to mow.

Thurgoona’s Kim Ball had concerns about the barbecue area.

“It looks too hot to sit there, for children there’s not a big enough shade area,” she said.

“I know they’ve got to make them vandal proof but to me it didn’t fit in with the environment.”

A Sydneysider en route to Melbourne, Ravi Coutinho, who has spent his life in a wheelchair, said the work was “very well done”.

“It’s friendly for people like me,” he said.

“On a wheelchair I can roam and go almost to the edge of the water.

“This whole park I can now go around the whole river and there’s lots of benches for kids to sit down and grass to run around.”

The second stage of work at the park is due to begin in March and run through until November.

It will include an upgrade to car parking, the construction of a retaining wall at the rear of the Mitta Mitta Canoe Club and River Deck Cafe building and a new bike path to bypass the foreshore.