Community groups call for action as used syringes found at Clifford Park in Goonellabah

There are concerns over the safety of a popular Lismore park and children’s playground after an increase in used syringes were found in the area.

An increase in used syringes have been found in Clifford Park, Goonellabah, recently. Photo: supplied.

Serious concerns have been raised over the safety of a popular Lismore park and sporting field after an increase in used syringes were found in recent months.

Local rugby league club Northern United has called on Lismore City Council to provide more support to help clean up Clifford Park at Goonellabah after noticing a significant uptick in needles in the area.

“We noticed it last year as well, but it’s been really, really heavy in the last couple of months,” said Djaan Jarrett, the president of Northern United, which uses the ground as a training and occasional home game venue.

“We’ve found them on the field, we’ve found them in the playground where the kids play and we’re finding them underneath our grandstand,” he added.

“Each day we’re finding needles there in the park.”

An increase in used needles have been found at Clifford Park in Goonellabah, in recent months. Photo: supplied.

Jarrett says that of particular concern is the risk posed to young children.

“We’re worried because some of the players bring their children to training, and they play on the side while the team trains,” said Jarrett, who notes that used syringes have also been found in the nearby children’s playground.

“There are kids up there who are playing unsupervised. They’re not going to be up there checking for needles because they’re too busy having fun, like all kids should,” he said.

Compounding the matter, the playground is also less than 100 metres from the Jarjum preschool, a community-led indigenous day care centre.

“We’re talking about preschool-aged kids who use the park,” said Jarrett.

There are concerns for child safety after used syringes were found at the children's playground at Clifford Park, Goonellabah. Photo: Lismore City Council.

While club volunteers search the ground and surrounds before their teams train, Jarrett says he has been left underwhelmed by the council’s response to the issue.

“Nothing has been suggested, that’s the thing. I’ve reached out to them to try and help come up with ways to minimise risk to the community and young people who come and play in the park. But nothing’s been suggested,” he said.

While the council locks the toilets at Clifford Park every evening, Jarrett says this isn’t helping to address the issue of syringes being dumped on the field.

“I don’t know what more we can do, we’re trying our best but we’re at a loss. And it’s becoming increasingly frustrating because people aren’t coming to training because it’s not safe and people aren’t letting their kids play in the park – and that impacts our training and community.”

In addition to being a training venue, Clifford Park will also host Northern United’s first home game of the NRRRL season against Kyogle on April 30.

Northern United used Clifford Park as a training and occasional home game venue. Photo: supplied.

In a statement, a spokesperson from Lismore City Council said that council was aware of the increase in used syringes left at Clifford Park and was working on ways to improve the safety of the area.

“The toilets are cleaned every morning seven days a week and any syringes are safely disposed of.

“The toilets are then closed to the public at 7pm every night to reduce the opportunity for syringes to be left in the toilets overnight.

“Council is also looking at other options to reduce the number of syringes left in the toilets.

“In regards to any used syringes discarded outside toilets or on the field, Council regularly cleans the outdoor area, including removing any syringes, every Monday, or when we are informed that syringes have been left.

“We urge anyone using syringes to dispose of them safely in the sharps disposal containers provided in the male, female and disabled toilets so that community members are not put at risk.”