Deepwater Park: ‘This is our park, not their gay hook-up park
A CHILDREN’S park in Sydney’s south-west is a beautiful place along the Georges River but is now becoming known infamously as a place where men meet to have sex with each other and locals are angry — one having picked up condoms and tubes of lubricants — about the sleazy side of the park.
The Express
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DEEPWATER Park in Milperra is a beautiful place along the Georges River but is now becoming known infamously as place where gay men meet to have sex.
Mother of three Clare Tapp told the Express she has seen men come to the park just to have sex and has spotted used condoms in the bushes.
Hannah Tuton says she has been forced to pick up condoms and tubes of lubricants in a plastic bag, so that her five children don’t see the sleazy side of the park.
It is becoming so bad, she is thinking of not visiting the park anymore with her children despite saying it is a beautiful area.
Canterbury Bankstown Council, which runs the park, said they are aware of the illegal activities and are working with the Bankstown Police to stop it.
They urged residents to contact the police immediately if they see these things happening at the park.
Mrs Tapp said she had called the local police but was told they cannot do anything unless they were caught in the act.
“Well I did (catch them) twice yesterday,” an angry Mrs Tapp said.
“The only solution I see is to redevelop it as a big family park leaving minimal trees.
“We walked through Deepwater with a female friend and we had two encounters way too close with men in their fantastic acts.
“I didn’t need to see that. I’m horrified.
“It’s time for Deepwater to actually be the family park it should be.
“(When we went) it was peak hour and we saw too much.”
Hannah Tuton said is now becoming a possible child protection issue and she will be forced to stop taking her kids there.
“However, it has been such a delight to find a place so beautiful and natural so close to home where my kids can let their imaginations run wild,” Mrs Tuton said.
“My children discovered a mangrove off the public footpath and claimed it as their cubby … they enjoy climbing the trees and playing by the river.
“One day as we were approaching the cubby, two middle aged men emerged out of the mangrove.
“Since that time I do not let the kids run ahead of me so that I can check that this space is clear before they approach.
“One day when my children were playing in the playground, two men dressed in work clothes arrived in separate cars and entered the bush land directly opposite the play equipment.
“They were in the bush for about 15 minutes then exited and left separately.”
Mrs Tap said they want action taken now to stop this. “I call for action!
Enough is enough,” she said.
“This is illegal so make it stop.
“This is our park, not their gay hook-up park.
“I want to know why this is still a problem?”
A Canterbury Bankstown Council spokeswoman said: “We continue to work with local police regarding anti-social behaviour at Deepwater Park.
“This includes locking the gate at sundown and installing signage.
“Further measures are also under consideration.”