NIMBY’s protest against playground

Playground

Mums (L-R) Danielle Wayman, Ilona Conaghan and Tara Kunkun with their kids (L-R) Hugh, 4, Conaghan and Sienna, 4, and Marriott at Constellation Playground. Picture: Adam Ward
Source: The Daily Telegraph




MUMS and kids could be kicked off their local playground because some locals are fed-up with “screaming kids having too much fun”.


Parents will square off with a handful of local residents at Leichhardt town hall tonight to protest against the relocation of the Constellation playground to the opposite side of King George Park in Rozelle.

The move would mean the relocation of the long-jump pits, currently used all year round by the Balmain Little Athletics Club.

If the Leichhardt council, which has already employed rangers to monitor noise at the playground, approves the relocation it would also cost ratepayers up to $365,000.

The battle to keep the playground took a nasty turn last week, when the popular ‘flying saucer’ equipment was set alight.

Lilyfield mum Tara Kunkun said she took her sons Kaylan, 3, and Kasey, 1, to the park twice a week.

The playground, funded by a $300,000 grant from the RTA earlier this year after it finished building a second bridge over Iron Cove, has become popular with inner-city mums.

“There are no other parks like it. Before it was opened, I would have to travel to Alexandria so the kids could play,” Ms Kunkun said.

“Of course there is noise – that’s what kids do. But to move it because of so-called ‘screaming kids’ would be a waste of money. Surely the funds could be spent on something more worthwhile.”

The playground has divided the community. Local resident and Labor MP Walt Secord said the battle to remove the playground was a case of `political correctness gone mad’.

“The only sound coming out of this park is fun,” Mr Secord said.

“This is the first time I have ever heard of a children’s park being closed because they were having too much fun.”

In July, council staff were ordered to monitor noise and plant shrubs to screen the playground.

Rangers have been employed to keep watch over the park and on-call officers are monitoring ‘anti-social behaviour’.

The cost to remove bubblers, park benches and shade sails and re-install equipment to a site on the other side of the park has been estimated at $329,500.

A further $35,000 would be required to move the long jump pits.

The council report recommends against relocation.

“A complete relocation of the playground at an estimated cost of $330,000 is considered cost prohibitive and unwarranted,” the report said.

Leichhardt Mayor Rochelle Porteous could not be contacted last night.

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