Applewood Reserve and Whistlewood Reserve Upgrade

Following community consultation in October 2025, we’ve finalised the design for the Applewood Reserve and Whistlewood Reserve upgrade.

The final design includes the following features:

Applewood Reserve

• New footpath
• Solar lighting
• Graded lawn and gathering space (with reduced number of seating/retaining rocks)
• Picnic table area
• Additional tree planting

Whistlewood Reserve

• New footpath
• New play equipment, including junior play panels, open junior slide, cantilever basket swing and curved monkey bars.
• Nature play area, with log scramble and rock steppers
• Picnic table area
• Drinking fountain
• Expanded basketball half court
• Scooter and bike circuit track
• Bench seating
• Additional trees and landscaping

When is it happening?

Construction is planned for March/April 2026 and will be take approximately 2 months to complete. This schedule is subject to authority approvals, weather conditions and contractor availability.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during community consultation in October 2025. Your feedback and ideas have helped shape the final design which will be released in the next few weeks.

Summary of key findings:

Whistlewood Reserve

• Strong support for the proposed playground design, with suggestions for additional junior play equipment.
• Support for the new concrete paths, including suggestions for a circuit path to allow for additional bike and scooter use.
• Support for the expansion of the basketball pad.
• Requests for the inclusion of a fitness station within the reserve.

Applewood Reserve

• Support for the proposed performance area to accommodate a range of local community activities.
• Concerns regarding the extent of rock seating, including its impact on the reserve’s visual appeal and existing lawn space.
• Suggestions to provide an enclosed, formal dog park area with a drinking fountain.
• Requests for the inclusion of a fitness station within the reserve.

Dog Park
Applewood Reserve is a dog-on-lead reserve; therefore, a dedicated off-lead dog facility cannot be accommodated. The nearest off-lead dog parks are located at Jenkins Reserve (approximately 300 metres from Applewood Reserve) and Anderson Park (approximately 370 metres from Applewood Reserve).

Fitness Stations
The installation of fitness equipment is not supported at either Applewood Reserve or Whistlewood Reserve due to their size and function as small local reserves. Fitness stations are typically provided in district-level reserves, which service larger community catchment areas.

Next steps

We’re now finalising the final design and will share this with you in the coming weeks.

We've developed a concept plan to upgrade Applewood Reserve and Whistlewood Reserve in Doncaster East.

Applewood Reserve

The proposed improvements include a new:

• concrete footpath
• solar lighting
• picnic table area
• rock seating and gathering space
• performance area and
• trees

Whistlewood Reserve

The proposed improvements include a new:

• concrete footpath
• play mound
• play equipment
• nature play area
• picnic table area and drinking fountain
• expanded basketball half court
• bench seat and
• trees

The existing play equipment in Whistlewood Reserve will be donated to the Rotary Club, for reuse for communities in need.