Benalla Rural City Council is delighted to announce that the new flying fox at Fawckner Drive Reserve officially opened on Wednesday, 23 July 2025. Situated between the skate park and BMX track, this exciting addition is ready for both locals and visitors to enjoy.
Benalla Rural City Council Mayor, Cr Bernie Hearn, was at Fawckner Drive on Thursday to see some of the first residents take it for a spin — and there were plenty of smiles all around.
“The new flying fox is a wonderful addition to one of our community’s favourite parks,” said Cr Hearn.
“The addition of a flying fox to the precinct was one of the most popular suggestions during the consultation process, and through available grants, we have turned that idea into a reality. “The flying fox is the first project finished as part of the Fawckner Drive Precinct Masterplan, marking the start of the precinct’s renewal.
“This is a big step in turning Fawckner Drive into a lively and welcoming place for everyone. It’s exciting to see the vision of our community led masterplan starting to take shape.”
“I can’t wait to see families and children of all abilities enjoying this new space,” Cr Hearn added.
The flying fox features a double-seat design with both a disk seat and a bucket seat to ensure accessibility and enjoyment for everyone. To enhance safety and comfort, the area includes a rubber-surfaced pathway and a wood chip soft fall surrounding the structure.
The flying fox project has been proudly funded by the Victorian Government Department of Justice Creating Safer Places grant program. Future planned upgrades for the precinct include a new pump track, infrastructure improvements, and accessible pathways, further enhancing the area for the Benalla Rural City community.
For more information, contact Benalla Rural City Council at 03 5760 2600.