This is the response of Wingecarribee Shire Councillor Ken Halstead in relation to a Draft Playspace Strategy soon to go on public exhibition.

Cr Halstead urged the community to send in written submissions regarding their expectations for playspaces across the shire or risk the chance of losing them.

"The future of our public playspaces will depend on public input," he said.

Wingecarribee Shire councillors have voted in favour of putting the draft playspace strategy on exhibition to gauge public opinion about what spaces are needed, where they are needed and the standard.

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A report to the June 10 ordinary meeting of council said the draft had been developed following an assessment of all 48 playspaces across the shire, which identified low play value scores across all sites.

It said that the low scores were generally due to equipment being installed prior to the availability of current higher play value designs, only catering to a narrow (relatively young) age range and offering little in the way of challenging or imaginative play experiences.

The report also suggested that playspace infrastructure required a higher level of maintenance than other items typically found in open space settings, such as park furniture. Further, it suggested that a successful playground was generally supported by other infrastructure such as public toilets, formed pathways and bins.

The report to council said the draft strategy sought to maintain a good level of distribution of playgrounds across the shire, while improving play value and accessibility.

The suggested strategies included reducing the overall number of playspaces while increasing the play value and amenity of those retained.

It suggested four strategic options that all proposed the ultimate loss of between 15 and 24 playgrounds at the "end of their life."

It also provided a framework upon which to base decisions for the future development of playspaces that met the community's needs for a sustainable network of playspaces that are attractive, inclusive, safe and affordable.

The report said that while maintaining the current number of playgrounds, and simultaneously improving play value and amenity may be desirable from a community experience point of view, it was not affordable and not supported by council's current strategic framework.

Councillor Ken Halstead said that he was concerned that the guidelines for successful playgrounds as stated in the council report could mean the shire would be left with about 10 top-rated playgrounds and the rest could be lost to neighbourhoods.

He said playgrounds were all about young people getting out in the fresh air for play and exercise.

"Passive recreation is one thing, but the community needs other playspaces," he said.

"There are not too many playgrounds that I have traveled past in the Highlands that are not being used.

"But we don't need toilet blocks at every site."

Cr Halstead said he feared that the land where a playground was located could be changed from community to operational if the playground was removed.

"Once this happens the land is taken away from the community for good and can be sold by council," he said.

"If council reduces the number of playgrounds it would also reduce its maintenance expenses, but this reduction would be at the expense of children getting out in the fresh air to play."

Cr Halstead said that classic urban town planners Clarence Perry and Clarence Stein had set a standard for neighbourhoods with a focus on playgrounds in all housing development areas.

"This is a classic neighbourhood planning concept. Some may say this is old-fashioned, but it has been used in all proper designs ever since," he said.

Councillors voted in support of displaying the draft for 28 days for public input. The public exhibition period is still to be confirmed.