Gates open early to new and improved Muller Park

Bli Bli’s popular Muller Park officially re-opened today (7 October 2011) nearly a month ahead of schedule.

A Master Plan for the 45 hectare park was endorsed by Sunshine Coast Council in April following extensive community consultation.

The $2.165 million revamp to the park commenced in July with four months scheduled for extensive civil and earth works originally due for completion at the end of October.

Division 9 Councillor Vivien Griffin said the aim was always to return the park – including the boat ramp – to the public as quickly as possible.

"I know this is a very popular boat ramp and picnic spot which the local people have been eager to enjoy again and I am so pleased we are able to deliver these wonderful improvements to the park early," she said.

Cr Griffin said a key objective of the Muller Park Master Plan was to improve community access to the park as well as its use.

"This long overdue upgrade for the park involves a staged approach. Stages 1 and 2 have now been completed," she said.

"Previously, as park users will know, large portions of the park remained water-logged and unwelcoming for long periods at a time.

"With the coming storm season, I think park visitors will appreciate that the drainage issues have been addressed with earthworks creating stormwater treatment solutions that maintain high water quality and allow floodwater to drain faster from the site.

"Park and boat ramp users will also benefit from the additional car parking areas.

"The boat ramp car park has been doubled in size, while a car park near the entrance of the park has been formalised which includes a bus parking bay.

"Now that the drainage works are completed, we will proceed in the next year with new picnic shelters, fishing nodes, pathways and seating areas, together with a safe, accessible toilet block and lighting for the precinct."

There were a number of very important considerations taken into account when drafting the Master Plan including the park’s deep-seated connections with Indigenous history.

Cr Griffin said an Aboriginal Elder was involved in developing protection for certain locations within the park that hold strong cultural significance.

"We also had an Indigenous site monitor from Gubbi Gubbi on site throughout the works to look for any hidden artefacts during excavation and to remediate any disturbance to cultural material," she said.

"In the next landscape works stage, artwork and interpretive signage about flora, fauna and the history and culture within Muller Park will be a major focus."