Safety standards blamed for 30m slide’s shocking injury toll
THE owners of Sydney’s most dangerous playground have been forced to close a second slide after the Sunday Telegraph revealed last weekend several children had suffered multiple injuries while playing there.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE owners of Sydney’s most dangerous playground have been forced to close a second slide after the Sunday Telegraph revealed last week several children had suffered multiple injuries while playing there.
Developers Stockland Altrove have been the target of angry parents across Sydney’s northwest for the past month because of their 30m slide at Hilltop Park in Schofields.
Paramedics say the $2.3 million facility has been responsible for at least five serious fractures since it was opened April 1.
But despite being warned about the dangers of the second smaller slide as early as May 2, it has taken the developers until yesterday to shut it down.
“As part of our ongoing review of Hilltop Park play equipment, from tomorrow morning (Tuesday 8 May) we will close the smaller slide in addition to the tower slide,” Stockland Altrove said on its Facebook page.
“Our processes ensure that all our parks, including Hilltop Park, undergo thorough testing and a rigorous certification process during the design and construction phase before opening.
“In this case we’re undertaking some additional reviews in light of community feedback and we thank you all for your patience and understanding.”
Three weeks ago the developer was still telling concerned parents on Facebook: “all equipment at Hilltop Park is safe to use”.
Local mum Rhiannon Stewart told the company about the dangers of the 4m slide on May 2, saying “the other slide near the climbing frame is a concern”.
“It’s a very high angle and kids just go flying of it, I witnessed a few kids come off screaming because they hurt themselves flying off this thing,” she said on Facebook.
Stockland Altrove shut only one end of the 30m slide on May 2, meaning kids were still climbing to the top of the slide on Friday, May 4.
The slide’s major problem is the speed when riding down its tunnel and the height and type of cushioning at its ending.
“So many injuries is an early sign of something bad. There are council playgrounds that operate for years without having any injuries like this,” David Eager, chairman of Standards Australia’s Children’s Playground Equipment Committee, said.
Nine-year-old Jack Goodwin sustained a spiral fracture to his right leg’s tibia after coming off the slide on Monday.
He will require a cast for at least eight weeks.
His parents Sally and Dane Goodwin are both local paramedics and said they know of at least five other fractures sustained at the park.
“Why has nobody done a proper safety assessment of this park?,” Mr Goodwin, 47, asked.
“We are not the fun police. We just don’t want to see anyone else get injured like Jack has.”
Mr Goodwin took aim at Blacktown Council for telling him to “send an email” when he called to report the incident on Tuesday.
Blacktown Mayor Stephen Bali was one of the first to go down the slide April 1.
At the time he was quoted by Stockland as saying “congratulations to everyone involved in the design and development of this new park”.
On Thursday he said “there are quite a few features in the park that the council simply would not do”.
“We have never heard of a 14m slide. It might be worth putting an extension on the end of the slide so it slides to the ground.”
“Older people definitely pick up a lot of speed.”
One of those older folk who picked up too much speed is Schofields father of two Dan Duncan.
Mr Duncan, 43, an intensive care paramedic with NSW Ambulance, fractured his left leg in three places after coming off the slide at the 1.6ha park April 13.
He required emergency surgery at Nepean Hospital and will have screws and plates in his leg for the rest of his life.
“It is without a doubt the fastest slippery dip I have ever been on,” he said.
“They need to lengthen the plateau at the end of the slide so that you lose more speed before coming off the slide.
“Perhaps they could install more soft fall at the end of the slide.”
The park is Stockland’s private property until the council takes ownership several years from now.
Stockland said they have received three reports of injuries at Hilltop Park.
In light of injuries reported to Stockland we chose to close the slide on Wednesday 2 May, with the support of Blacktown City Council,” Richard Rhydderch, Stockland’s general manager NSW residential development,” he said.
“A further review is now underway, to complement the thorough testing completed during the detailed planning, design and construction of the park.
“As Australia’s largest residential developer with a focus on community creation, we pride ourselves on our ability to create thriving long-lasting communities.
“Stockland has designed, built and developed hundreds of parks, playgrounds and shared greenspaces at communities across Australia.”
“We will provide further updates on the slide to the community soon.”
The developer claimed Hilltop Park has a Blacktown Council construction certificate for the tower and play equipment, as well as a number of other certificates and letters of compliance.
Shine Lawyers NSW general manager James Chrara said while it’s thing to allow your child to graze their knees in a playground and get back up again, it’s a completely different issue when the equipment they are playing on is not fit for purpose.
“Increasingly at Shine Lawyers, we are seeing clients come in where play centres are under resourced and ill-equipped to offer a safe experience for users,” he said.
“Councils have a similar duty of care where playgrounds are erected in public spaces for local residents’ use.
“All equipment, once released for public enjoyment, should be of the highest safety standard.”
Problem playgrounds
Putney Park, Ryde:
20m slide with sharp left hand bend which has caused broken arms.
Parramatta CBD River Foreshore Park:
Super-fast slide launches kids towards the river.
Bungaribee Park, Western Sydney Parklands:
No shade cloth to protect skin against burning hot metal slides.
Fearnley Grounds Playground, Centennial Parklands:
No fences despite being close to the road.
Wulaba Park, Waterloo:
No fences and close to roads.
Darling Quarter Playground, Darling Harbour:
Known as the “twilight zone” for losing kids. It’s massive, with no fences and lots of water in a very crowded area.
Riverside Playground in Spring Farm:
Burning sun and no shade cloth makes for a very hot metal slippery slide.