Melbourne lockdown: Stonnington Council’s push for playgrounds to reopen

An inner city council is fighting to reopen its playgrounds to help youngsters’ mental health during lockdown, but the State Government is refusing to budge.

Malvern East’s Phoenix Park is one of many in Stonnington off limits due to the State Government’s lockdown restrictions. File picture.

An inner city council has taken its push to reopen playgrounds to the Premier, saying they have never been more important to the community.

Stonnington Council has written to Premier Daniel Andrews’ office, urging the State Government to work with metropolitan Melbourne councils to put all Covid-safe measures in place so playgrounds can open as quickly as possible.

In her letter, Mayor Kate Hely said the council believed it could safely manage its parks and use QR codes, patrols, enhanced cleaning and signage to minimise risk of infections.

She said the council was increasingly worried about the mental health impact on playground users, as 73.5 per cent of its homes were medium or high density, more than double Greater Melbourne’s average.

“Our families do not have spacious backyards, so they rely on council open play spaces,” she said.

“We are hearing reports every day that children are struggling with anxiety, depression and thoughts of harming themselves.

“Our playgrounds are an essential service that provides children with a safe and healthy environment for outdoor play and exercise.

The letter comes after Cr Alex Lew moved an urgent motion, backed by all councillors, to reopen the area’s playgrounds, fearing their closure would do “untold damage” to children’s mental health.

Acting chief health officer Professor Ben Cowie stood by the playground ban as Mr Andrews delivered a coronavirus update at lunchtime on Thursday.

He said it was a “proportionate” response to the outbreak with 45 per cent of Victoria’s active Covid cases belonging to children aged under 19 years.

“It’s not just about what people are doing in playground, it’s about all the gathering of other individuals around those children, and the need to ensure they are not being exposed to Covid and transmitting back to their families and so forth.”

“It is a proportionate thing to do, as hard as it is.”

On Monday, Cr Lew said pool and library staff unable to work could be used to monitor the playgrounds, ensure safe social distancing and interaction, and offer hand sanitiser upon entry.

“We should be able to put these measures in place within a matter of days … and allow them (children) to have a safe place to play and not suffer the mental health impacts of being locked in their small houses and apartments,” he said.

“Our outdoor playgrounds are an essential service … children for their own mental health need to be able to go outside and to play.”

Cr Jami Klisaris said playgrounds were important outlet for both children and parents to take a break from homeschooling and other lockdown demands.

“Anything we can do at council level to try and get equipment open in a safe way is going to be beneficial to our kids and their parents,” she said.

The ban prompted strong reactions from readers on Stonnington Leader’s Facebook page.

Several people reported large groups of adults having drinks and not wearing masks while watching their children play at Malvern East’s Central Park last weekend.

A nearby pizza shop, Central Park Pizza, has since been identified as a Tier 1 coronavirus exposure site after a positive case attended on Saturday and Sunday.

Rick Ogle said the decision was “madness”, Mirna Piro said “poor kids”, Angie Arthurs thought the outcome was “very sad” and Sandra Cohen felt skate parks should be kept open.

But David Watson disagreed, writing: “If parents/people are upset about them being closed off then they should’ve respected the rules more closely. They wouldn’t be closing them if there was no problem.”

Hanna Ashton-Lawson felt the playground ban was “so tough on the kids” but necessary.

“We live opposite a playground and there are so many parents unmasked and mingling,” she said.

“Children are catching Delta and the thought of a small child being alone in a hospital room is a worse option than closing playgrounds for a couple of weeks.”

The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.