Adelaide City Council pays $60k for free swing instalment in Victoria Square for Mental Health Month

The Adelaide City Council is spending $60,000 of ratepayer money so you can ride for free on a 9m-high yellow swing.

Forget running the city, Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith is proving she’s still young at heart and swinging into a good time.

Dr Lomax-Smith was the first to try out a 9m-high yellow SWING in Victoria Square to promote wellbeing as part of Mental Health Month.

The council has spent $60,000 to bring the instalment from Melbourne to encourage people to have a play and enjoy free swings daily, with Dr Lomax-Smith trumpeting that the council was prepared to spend “significant money” to promote mental wellbeing.

“This investment is promoting a sense of youthfulness, fun and joy,” she said.

“It’s about people enjoying themselves.”

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Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith gives the swing a whirl. Picture: Dean Martin

The 9m-high structure has been brought to South Australia from Melbourne at a cost of $60,000. Picture: Dean Martin

Dr Lomax-Smith said the council was willing to invest “significant money” to promote health and wellbeing outside of festivals and events.

“SWING is very close to the Adelaide Central Market so families can have a swing and go shopping while city workers can take time out from their busy days to have some fun,” she said.

SWING creator Ian Pidd said the instalment was as much fun to watch as it was to do.

“It is simple, spectacular, enormous fun – and it’s free,” Mr Pidd said.

“The ride is surprising in its thrill, being large and high but people are also placed in the centre of attention as they ride – applauded by strangers, celebrated and sung to.”

Mr Pidd said SWING was hugely popular when it debut during the Melbourne Fringe Festival last year, with commuters riding it every day and tourists taking “video after video”.

“Now it’s in Adelaide as part of Mental Health Month and what a great fit to launch SWING today on World Mental Health Day,” he said.

SWING opened to the public from 11.30am on Thursday and runs until Wednesday, October 23. Special sessions for wheelchair users will be on Saturday, October 12, and Wednesday, October 16, from 4-7pm.

Friday night sessions will be accompanied by live music and food trucks. You must be aged nine and over to swing.