Reopening a Centre after an extensive closure period.

A basic property checklist is available on the website (https://www.playcentre.org.nz/covid-19/centre-closures-for-lock-down/) for everyone who is coming back into centres after the summer holidays.

 Annual Property and Playground Checklists

Now is the time to complete your annual Property and Playground Checklists. These can be found under the Property Manual on the website: 9: Property Inspections and Checklists | Playcentre. Please complete and return these to your Regional Property Coordinator, Property Contacts | Playcentre, before the end of Term 1. These checks help us understand the condition of your property and playground and what works may need to be undertaken both now and in the future. If you have any questions or require any assistance with these checklist please contact your Regional Property Coordinator.

Property Communications

For all general property enquiries please email [email protected], for specific regional property information please contact your Regional Property Coordinator, Property Contacts | Playcentre.

Property Projects

Playcentre Aotearoa ask that all Centres talk to their Regional Property Coordinator at the very start of a project, when you are initially thinking about undertaking a project. This is for both Playcentre funding assisted projects and non-Playcentre funded projects. Regional Property Coordinators will then provide advice and guidance with regards to your specific playcentre building and playground. This could prevent costly mistakes!

Playcentre Aotearoa Hazardous Materials Management Plan

An Playcentre Aotearoa Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) has been created which is an umbrella document for ALL Centres, including those that have already received Condition Surveys and Site Specific Hazardous Materials Management (Asbestos, Lead or Mould) Management Plans. This document will be distributed to ALL Centres before the end of Term 1. This document and any other documents, testing and materials MUST be kept available for anyone who is intending to do any work, maintenance or cleaning at a Centre, including DIY members. It must be referred to even if you are intending to nail something to a wall in case the material on that wall is asbestos. These documents should be kept in a specific Hazardous Materials Folder which holds all of the available material and is accessible to anyone visiting, i.e., beside/near your sign-in tablet. If you have any queries about what is in the Playcentre Aotearoa Hazardous Materials Management Plan or anything else in relation to Hazardous Materials please contact your Regional Property Coordinator, Property Contacts | Playcentre. If you are planning maintenance or works prior to the end of Term 1 and haven’t received your copy of the HMMP please contact your Regional Property Coordinator for a copy.

Property Policy and Procedure Documents (and Project Application Forms)

The latest Property Policy and Procedure Documents and Project Application Forms (for Playcentre Funding Assisted and Non Funded Projects) are available on the website, Property and equipment | Playcentre. These documents are available in Word and PDF formats. Please make sure you also read the Documents “notes to help you complete the forms” in order to make sure you are supplying the correct information. Please do not alter these documents. Once completed these need to be sent to your Regional Property Coordinator.

The next meetings for Funding Assisted Projects are 9th February 2022 and 9th March 2022. Please have all documentation (at the latest) to your Regional Property Coordinator by Friday 4th February or Friday 4th March to be considered in one of these rounds.

Asbestos and Lead Acknowledgement

12.1.3 Asbestos and Lead Acknowledgement form has been created to provide information regarding both asbestos and lead contaminates at your Playcentre property. This form MUST be signed and submitted with each Project Application Form (Funding Assisted and Non Funded) that you complete. The relevant section on the Project Application Form should also be signed to acknowledge that you have seen, signed and submitted this form. Buildings newer than 2000 will not be required to undertake any Asbestos investigations and buildings newer than 1980 will not be required to undertake lead testing. For further information about this form and its contents and any questions about asbestos and lead please do not hesitate to contact your Regional Property Coordinator, Property Contacts | Playcentre.

Hire Documents

The latest hire documents (in pdf and word formats) are available on the website, Property and equipment | Playcentre. Please download these forms each time you wish to hire out the Centre. All hire forms need to be sent to your Regional Property Coordinator prior to the hire date. FAQs for hiring out your Centre are available at Property FAQ’s | Playcentre.

Property FAQ

FAQ are available on the website,  Property FAQ’s | Playcentre/, these are updated as new questions are asked. The following question that has come up recently.

Q. What does our centre committee need to do to ensure we meet our legal and duty of care asbestos obligations as a centre?

A. There are a number of actions and duties shared across the levels of Playcentre staff and volunteers that together ensure we uphold our responsibilities. Playcentre Aotearoa has over-arching procedures in place to support centres and help manage legal compliance and safety.  Centre based volunteer Property Officers and Health & Safety Officers are tasked specifically with the items below.

  • Check your centre annually using the Property and Playground Safety checklist forms provided and report any concerns or queries to the RPC (Regional Property Coordinator). Attend any regional officer training provided or watch the property videos to help you complete these simple visual reviews. Action any items from your checks (e.g. add as a working bee task, add to 5 year property plan, start a project)
  • Ensure your centre Hazard Register indicates your centres asbestos status. i.e., 
    • asbestos is assumed present (all non-assessed buildings constructed prior to 2000); 
    • asbestos assumed not present (all non-assessed buildings constructed since 2000); 
    • asbestos is not present in assessed areas (refer the hazard report reader to the full report & test results and note where this is kept at centre); 
    • asbestos confirmed (refer the hazard report reader to the full report & test results and note where this is kept at centre). 
  • Update the centre hazard register if or when your status above changes
  • Liaise with your RPC prior to planning any refurbishment or demolition (e.g. of a shed) to ensure that appropriate information is requested of contractors providing quotes and work plans.  Complete Asbestos & Lead acknowledgement form (12.1.3) and Application for Project Approval form (12.1.1 or 12.1.2) before engaging contractors to work on site.
  • Ensure any resultant asbestos sampling is undertaken by a licensed and approved contractor (i.e., sampling is not to be undertaken by centre volunteers). All testing must be completed by an approved laboratory.
  • Ensure any contractor completing removal has self-assessed themself as competent in working with asbestos, and if the area for removal is over 10m2, they must be a qualified asbestos removalist. 
  • Obtain qualification information (egg, email from them, or their website link) from any licensed contractor, removing >10m2 of asbestos, prior to seeking project approval from your RPC.
  • Obtain the landfill payment receipt from any competent contractor once they have completed the removal of >10m2 asbestos.  Supply the receipt copy to your RPC. (This is to ensure that they have followed correct legal procedure and have disposed of the asbestos in a wrapped and bagged manner, and notified the landfill so they can ensure correct management and storage at landfill.

Please note that as mentioned about an Umbrella Hazardous Materials Management Plan will be distributed to every Centre before the end of Term 1.