The sandpit, which was opened officially last night, was constructed after 18 months' fundraising and three weeks' intensive work by ‘‘mums and dads'', who installed galvanised posts, and timber decking during the summer holidays.
School community spokeswoman Sharon Fulton, of East Taieri, said that when the school calculated the cost of the project, the final figure came as ‘‘a bit of a shock''.
‘‘One of the contractors said ‘whatever happened to the old tractor tyre?','' she said.
One of the biggest expenses - more than $2200 - went on excavating drainage culverts under the low-lying play area, which was flooded during heavy rain early last year.
It was also expensive building to Ministry of Education guidelines, she said.
School community member Rowena Jones said there was pressure to ‘‘constantly think outside the square'' when fundraising, and last year they held trike-athons and sold calendars featuring children's work, and food at market days.
Completion of the sandpit marked the last stage in an extensive redevelopment of the school's outdoor area, during which jungle gyms and a wilderness area were also upgraded.
The St Kilda Community Sports Society, the Lion Foundation and Bendigo Valley Sports and Charity Foundation also contributed funds to the project.
