Tassie council bans jumping castles and zorb balls following Hillcrest tragedy

A Tasmanian municipality has banned the use of jumping castles an zorb balls out of respect for Hillcrest victims and to ensure more children are not hurt on any land it controls. LATEST >>

ANOTHER Tasmanian council has banned the use of inflatables such as zorb balls and jumping castles in the wake of December’s tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School.

On December 16, Grade 5-6 pupils at the Devonport school were taking part in break-up festivities on the school’s oval when a jumping castle was lifted 10m into the air by a freak gust of wind.

The children fell to the ground. Six were killed and three more taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Two days later, Tasmania’s Education Department issued a memo to all staff banning inflatable equipment from all school sites.

Scene at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport where six children were killed. Picture: Rob Burnett

The ban also applies to all companies or groups who hire Department of Education properties and will remain in place indefinitely.

Then Glenorchy City Council voted to ban all land-borne inflatable devices on its properties saying while its policy had always been stringent it was clear more steps needed to be taken to remove the risk of anything similar happening in Tasmania again.

Many questions remain about how an end-of-year celebration could go so wrong.

But in the interim, the Waratah-Wynyard Council has announced, it too, would ban the use of jumping castles and zorb balls on land it owned or operated.

“Our hearts go out the loved ones of the six children who lost their lives at Hillcrest Primary

School,” Mayor Robby Walsh said.

Robby Walsh.

“It is our responsibility as a community to help minimise the trauma of those affected

by this tragedy by banning the use of large inflatables at this time.”

Mayor Walsh said the purpose of the ban was two-fold.

“In addition to minimising the trauma of those impacted by the incident at Hillcrest Primary School, the council wishes to minimise the risk of future incidents resulting in injury or loss of life,” he said.

“Council is safeguarding our community from hazards that have the potential devastate

families, friends and the wider community.

“Until safety measures are thoroughly reviewed, the ban on jumping castles, zorb balls and the like will remain.”

Originally published as Tassie council bans jumping castles and zorb balls following Hillcrest tragedy