Laurie Ferguson Water Playground could relocate to Granville

Washing nappies in the water, gastro outbreaks and poor filtration systems. A western Sydney council is planning to relocate a popular aquatic playground to avert another health disaster.

The dormant Laurie Ferguson Water Playground at Merrylands would cost $1 million to bring to public health standards, prompting the suggestion the facility relocate to Granville Swimming Centre.

Cumberland councillor Joe Rahme said the playground in Granville Park was the centre of a cryptosporidiosis outbreak two years ago and nappies blocked the filtration system.

He called on the council to investigate relocating the park, which shut in April to make way for construction of the ground’s stadium, to the Granville aquatic centre, where the required filtration and infrastructure already existed.

“It also means staff are on hand to manage testing and cleaning,’’ he said.

“Co-locating facilities such as bathrooms and showers with the water park can assist with maintaining hygiene standards; for example, by providing change areas and toilet facilities for young children.’’

Health authorities deemed the playground unfit to operate.

Laurie Ferguson Water Playground opened in 2014 when it was under Parramatta Council but was shut after a cryptosporidiosis (gastro) outbreak in February 2019 when NSW Health declared the filtration systems poor and that it failed to deal with contamination.

Cr Rahme said stormwater run-off from nearby garden beds carry dirt and other contaminants caused issues in the splash park.

“The systems in place to measure chemical parameters have no alarm systems or back-to-base monitoring so if there are any issues with water quality children can be at risk of becoming ill,” he said.

Councillor Paul Garrard, who was the Parramatta Lord Mayor when the playground opened, said it was being “abused’’ after poor engineering decisions and supported the relocation.

“We have a situation where nappies are being washed within the water that gets recycled and then dumped on children’s heads by virtue of playground equipment and sensors that it has,’’ he said.

“Can you imagine those circumstances existing?’’

Laurie Ferguson at the water playground named in his honour.

Cumberland acting general manager Peter Fitzgerald said it would cost close to $1 million to reinstate the park.

“There is considerable health advice that suggests it would cost a lot of money to have that park up and running to meet public health guidelines,’’ he said.

Earlier in the council meeting, Cr Rahme had to water down any suggestions the relocation proposal was because the park was named after a Labor politician.

“Despite the (social media) stories, let me be clear, the park in its current state is not fit to function and poses an enormous health risk to our children users,’’ the Liberal said.

He said it would continue to be called the Laurie Ferguson Water Playground if it moved to Granville, and some form of a water feature would remain at Granville Park.

ParraParents co-founder Kellie Darley said the water playgrounds were popular with families who did not want to pay a fee to enter a public swimming pool.

“Families like going somewhere that’s not a pool,’’ she said.

“These splash pads are great because they don’t accumulate the water; it’s a safe water park.’’

The council will now prepare a report into the relocation and the cost involved.

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