Ben Stollznow from Amusements Plus shares concerns over changes to inflatable use regulations

A Townsville business owner is worried changes to the rules around the use of jumping castles on council grounds will have a negative impact on their thriving business and leave many families and children upset.

Tommy the Train will take people from one end of the Queensland Country Bank Stadium to the other tomorrow at the open day, driven by Ben Stollznow. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

Townsville council has taken the extraordinary step of banning jumping castles in council parks and venues over workplace health and safety concerns, the Bulletin can reveal.

A Townsville inflatables and amusement rides business sounded the alarm about rule changes around the use of jumping castles and inflatables, labelling it “un-Australian”.

A spokeswoman for Townsville City Council said the directive was a result of changes to made to WorkSafe Qld’s code of practice following the devastating incident in Tasmania in 2021 where six children tragically lost their lives

“Part of this requirement is that ‘Where a land-borne inflatable cannot be secured with ground stakes, the anchorage system should be able to withstand the same forces as though it were secured with ground stakes,” the spokeswoman said.

“Due to the risk of hitting underground services, council do not permit ground penetration unless all steps have been followed to identify services.”

Ben Stollznow and his wife Kelli-Ann have been operating Amusements Plus since 2009, providing numerous themed jumping castles, blow-up slides, mechanical bulls, mini jeeps and animal farm set ups for community days, public events and private parties and functions.

Mr Stollznow said he has heard from community groups and multiple clients that when they had recently tried to book council venues for events they were told they cannot have inflatables or jumping castles at the site.

Employing more than 25 casual employees, Mr Stollznow said if they were not able to use council venues, including sporting club venues, it would “greatly affect” his business.

Mr Stollznow said it was another kick in the guts after coping with COVID and paying more than $50,000 in public liability insurance. Picture: Supplied

“We do some soccer clubs that have over 100 kids when they do their break-up and they won’t be able to have [jumping castles],” he said.

She said inflatables could be used in council open spaces, if they could demonstrate meeting “all requirements of the WHS legislation and Council procedures have been met”.

But Mr Stollznow said it was another kick in the guts after coping with COVID and paying more than $50,000 in public liability insurance.

“We pay huge amounts of insurance to make sure we get it right, to get everything perfect and as per the council wants and this is very hard for business,” he said.

“It’s probably nearly un-Australian to say that a kid can’t have a jumping castle on their birthday, it’s a staple.”

“It’s probably nearly un-Australian to say that a kid can’t have a jumping castle on their birthday, it’s a staple.”

Having heard about the potential changes, Mr Stollznow contacted several Townsville City councillors who said they had gone to the CEO, but hadn’t heard back yet on the current status on the use of inflatables on council areas.

“I don’t know why they haven’t given us a reason yet,” he said.

Mr Stollznow said after the tragic Hillcrest jumping castle incident in Tasmania in 2021, which claimed the lives of six primary school children at an end-of-year school event, questions were raised nationwide over the use of inflatables and the safety precautions taken.

“It all stems back to the tragic events that happened in Tasmania a few years ago,” he said.

Selection of inflatables and jumping castles available for hire by Amusements Plus. Picture: Supplied

“It was a tragic accident..you’ve got to make sure safety for everyone is number one. It’s the flow-on effect and it’s easy for the council and governments to go ‘we will ban it,” he said.

Mr Stollznow said the company’s amusements were fully supervised by trained operators.

“For our staff and patrons safety is our number one and fun is second,” he said.

The business also recently took part in the Ingham flood recovery concert at Andy’s Roadhouse last month, providing inflatables for children and families affected by the disaster.

Originally published as Ben Stollznow from Amusements Plus shares concerns over changes to inflatable use regulations