NEW play equipment in Hewett and Kapunda, new flooring at the Freeling Institute and the continued fit-out of the Wasleys Clubrooms, are among a number of projects to be fast-tracked thanks to a COVID-19-related economic stimulus fund.

Light Regional Council will allocate all of a $506,000 Federal Government payment to land and building works, allowing it to bring forward some projects which were still four years away.

The Kapunda Lions playground will undergo several changes over the next year, with the junior play equipment to be replaced and covered by a shade sail.

It will also get a new slide and the iconic Leo train will get a fresh coat of paint, while at nearby Davidson Reserve, the boardwalk will receive a fix-up.

The Osprey Parade playground, at Hewett, will have some non-suitable equipment removed but gain a swing set, and at Freeling’s Becker Reserve, the damaged rubber surface will be replaced with pine chip soft fall.

Also at Freeling, the town institute will have its main hall flooring replaced, with work also to be carried out to rectify a main internal wall, as necessary.

The Wasleys Oval Clubrooms, which were partially completed earlier this year, will also receive an extra injection of funds to help provide another toilet, flooring to the meeting room and kitchen appliances.

All projects already budgeted for in 2020/21 (to the value of $430,000) will also still go ahead as planned.

A staff-report, presented to council last week, said the fast-tracked program would also free up funding in future years to allow other projects, such as within the Kapunda historic Hill Street precinct, to be carried out sooner.

The $506,000 payment was made available through the Local Roads and Infrastructure (LRCI) Program, designed to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.