The transfer of playground equipment from the closed Tantanoola Primary School to Millicent has been delayed.


The equipment was removed last year and is currently stored at the Wattle Range Council depot in Millicent.


Council Engineering Services director Peter Halton told the council meeting the equipment required some modifications and repairs before its erection at Lions Park.


Mr Halton said one complication was the original manufacturer of the playground equipment was no longer in business.


He said a number of sun-damaged plastic items needed to be replaced while metal pieces required powder coating.


Council has earmarked $80,000 in its 2024/25 budget for the relocation of the Tantanoola playground equipment to Millicent and Tantanoola.


The meeting heard from a delegation of interested locals who are looking to upgrade Lions Park.


It was erected in 1971 at the same time as a major residential expansion in Millicent by the South Australian Housing Trust.


The advocates on the Lions Park Working Group include local residents and representatives of Wattle Range Council, Unity Housing and the Millicent Lions Club.


Unity Housing manages the former Housing Trust rental properties and estimates 277 children live in the immediate area.


To date, soccer goals have been erected at Lions Park along with planter boxes while trees and shrubs have been planted.


Among the suggested further additions to Lions Park are toilets, barbecue, footpaths, disabled ramps and a pump track.


Millicent Lions Club past president Dave Taylor said the Lions Park Working Group was looking for $100,000 from council as they were hopeful of securing a matching grant from the Thriving Communities Program.


Mr Taylor said there was a well-attended pre-Christmas event at Lions Park and he expressed his gratitude to Councillor Deb Agnew for loaning a portable toilet.


Cr Sharon Cox asked when the outcome of the Thriving Communities Program grant application would be known and Development Services director Emma Clay said an announcement was expected this month.


Cr John Drew said no funding guarantees could be given by the council.


“You have a sympathetic group here,” Cr Drew said.


“You have to maintain the momentum as it was lost with projects like a heated pool in Millicent.”


Mayor Des Noll also said he felt the Lions Park project had the support of councillors.


“Now is the time,” he said.