Numbat star attraction at Lions Park

Williams’ Lions Park was officially opened by Federal MP Rick Wilson last Friday, after $900,000 was spent on planning and redevelopment over the past four years.

Planning for redevelopment began in 2014, while the Shire of Williams council approved the master plan of the park in late 2016 and $686,000 of funding was secured in late 2017.

The remaining $214,000 was contributed by the Shire of Williams.

Emerge Associates and Phase3 Landscape Construction were tasked with the design and construction.

Building Better Regions Fund, Lotterywest, Newmont Boddington Gold, Department of Parks and Wildlife Narrogin, Project Numbat Incorporated and South32/Worsley Alumina all donated towards the project.

The finished product was a fantastic achievement by all involved, according to Shire of Williams president John Cowcher.

“They understood the project, they believed in the project enough to invest in it, and then they worked on implementing something that the community can be truly proud to say is part of their town,” he said.

A prominent feature of the park is a larger-than-life numbat, an initiative of Project Numbat Incorporated, a not-for-profit group which fundraises for numbat research.

“No doubt, the other main feature of the park is the flying fox located at the southern end of the park,” Mr Cowcher said.

“This was a community idea to have included in the park as a drawcard for the travelling public given the park’s proximity to Albany Highway.

“We hope that lots of parents have children that say ‘we want to stop there’ as they see the flying fox.”