Canungra's early Christmas surprise

Canungra's youngest residents are set to receive an early Christmas present with the opening of Scenic Rim's newest community playground in DJ Smith Park.

The playground will be officially opened to the community on Saturday 9 December and to celebrate Council is staging an afternoon of FREE family fun.

Mayor Greg Christensen said the afternoon would kick-off at 2pm with a range of FREE activities including a sausage sizzle, baby animal shows, face painting, jumping castle and DJ.

"We will be officially opening the new playground at 3pm but the fun will continue throughout the afternoon, including a visit from Santa Claus," he said.

Cr Christensen said the new playground in DJ Smith Park represented an Australian first in playground design.

"The main play structure, which is styled as a tree house, will be the first design combination of its kind in Australia," he said.

"It incorporates a large custom tower, tube swirl slide, two swoosh spiral slides and rock climbing structures, connected by bridges to two smaller towers.

"Other playground amenities will include a double-bay swing, including two single seat swings and a giant birds' nest swing; crawl-through log tunnel and custom log steppers; and a Global Motion rotating climbing frame.

"We want to provide contemporary play spaces which offer children a wide variety of outdoor experiences."

Division 3 representative Cr Virginia West said the project was an outcome of Council's long-term Playgrounds Strategy.

"DJ Smith Park is the third new playground delivered by Council this year following Billabong Park at Kooralbyn and Jubilee Park in Beaudesert," she said.

"Our Playgrounds Strategy is designed to guide the management and improvement of community playgrounds across the region."