‘Absolute cop out’: What you said about the jumping castle ban

This week we broke the news that Townsville City Council had forbidden inflatables and jumping castles at all council venues due to updated safety laws. Here’s what you said.

Selection of inflatables and jumping castles available for hire by Amusements Plus. Picture: Supplied

This week we broke the news that Townsville City Council has started banning jumping castles at all council venues due to updated safety laws.

The Townsville Bulletin spoke to Amusement Plus owner Ben Stollznow, who said he’s been hearing from community groups and multiple clients that when they’ve tried to book council venues for events, they were being told inflatables and jumping castles cannot be used.

A spokeswoman from Townsville City Council said this was because of changes made to WorkSafe Qld’s code following the deadly 2021 Tasmanian jumping castle incident.

As part of this change, all inflatables must be anchored to the ground with stakes.

“Due to the risk of hitting underground services, Council do not permit ground penetration unless all steps have been followed to identify services,” the spokeswoman explained.

Selection of inflatables and jumping castles available for hire by Amusements Plus. Picture: Supplied

But Mr Stollznow said it was another kick in the guts after coping with COVID and paying more than $50,000 in public liability insurance.

“We pay huge amounts of insurance to make sure we get it right, to get everything perfect and as per the council wants and this is very hard for business,” he said.

In the Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy that killed six children, the operator was accused of not using enough pegs to anchor the inflatable.

We also ran a voter poll in the jumping castle story, and as of Friday 347 of you voted.

VOTER POLL: Should inflatables and jumping castles be allowed for use on council grounds?

Here’s what you said:

Teena

But Mr Stollznow said it was another kick in the guts after coping with COVID and paying more than $50,000 in public liability insurance. “We pay huge amounts of insurance to make sure we get it right, to get everything perfect and as per the council wants and this is very hard for business,” he said.

‘Goat Herder’

Inflatables aren’t banned. They are required to be operated in way that will cause harm or death. That is a good thing.

Warren

Providing public safety is considered first, weather conditions are checked & rechecked & all is ok, what is wrong with someone trying to provide entertainment for kids? This council needs to have a big look at itself! First there was the back down on Strand parking meters, then the Ticket Shop fiasco, now public entertainment?? What next for this half baked, overpaid mob?

Mary

Fun police 100 Children having fun 0

Brendon

Jumping Castle has been banned due to council bringing in a law years ago about not being able to use pegs on their land as it my damage services underground. Townsville business adapted to this change. City Council has now completely banned the use of jumping castles on their land. they don’t want to pay a staff member to go and mark out a field where the underground services are so amusements businesses can secure the jumping castle properly.

Michael

What an absolute cop out from an inept & disgraceful Ex Team Hill led Council, this is right up there with their failed Strand Paid Parking fiasco! Rip into them Ben & Kelli-Ann Stollznow this is an absolute cop out and joke decision by the TCC and will destroy great community run events and good free family fun in our great city!

Marie

Why is this even a topic of conversation when more important matters are not being debated.

Adam

After the incident in Tassie insurance sky rocketed.

Although the business itself may have insurance if it’s operating on council grounds or someone else’s business premises that business is not insured, basically if a kid fell from the castle to the floor the business hosting wouldn’t be covered unless they pay extortionate costs for insurance to cover.

Sad world really...

Heather

A lot of the jumping castle’s and slide businesses closed because of the insurances. Brothers Leagues Club also stopped getting them in for the kids each Friday because of safety and insurance.

Dale

Possibly the dumbest article I’ve ever read. What they’re actually saying is council has no idea where its underground services run, so has put a blanket ban on tying down jumping castles. Seriously couldn’t this issue be solved in public facilities by locating these services? This would cost a very minimal amount and allow our kids to have fun. Get Paul Jacob back in this mayor and her merry band of dysfunctionals have no idea

Scotty

COUNCIL GROUND’S????it’s public property, maintained by public money, council is nothing but a dictatorship.if it wasn’t for ratepayers council would actually have to find a real job.

Originally published as ‘Absolute cop out’: What you said about the jumping castle ban