Kids forced inside: Council takes down beloved shared basketball hoop

Children in a sleepy Bayside cul-de-sac have been forced to remove their street basketball hoop after council rangers threatened the families with hefty fines.

Residents of a Beaumaris cul-de-sac have had to remove a basketball ring and swing from their dead end street. Picture: Penny Stephens

Sport-loving kids have been forced back indoors after Bayside Council slapped a ban on a street basketball hoop.

Council rangers warned Beaumaris families to dismantle the hoop and a tree swing or face a $500 penalty.

The council was alerted to the equipment by a complaining neighbour on Wallace Crescent, Beaumaris and swooped on Christmas Eve to remove the hoop.

But others on the street say the play ban is unfair.

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The mobile equipment was a joint purchase by families and had been up since mid-2018.

Mum Sofia Dedes said the kids loved playing together at the end of the cul-de-sac where there was no through traffic.

“In the mornings before school, after school, all day weekends, all the kids are out there playing with each other,” Ms Dedes said.

She said the ban was very upsetting for the kids.

After the complaints of one neighbour, these residents of a Beaumaris cul-de-sac have had to remove a basketball ring and swing and have been threatened with fines. Picture: Penny Stephens

Ms Dedes said there were no footpaths and it was not a thoroughfare, so safety wasn’t the issue.

“We don’t want to be law-breakers,” she said.

“There is always an adult supervising. We have a great little community and it’s such a shame the response from council has been to shut it down rather than find another solution.”

Bayside Council told the Leader they would continue to monitor the situation and try to work with locals to resolve the issue.

Dr Hamish Reid, city planning director, said safety was paramount.

“Council has received a number of complaints regarding items obstructing the footpath and roadway,” he said.

Dr Reid said the equipment owners had been made aware of the penalties for continuing to obstruct the roadway.

Connect Health & Community Exercise physiologist Nathan Goldberg said with a third of Australian health issues derived from physical inactivity, it was important to provide children with every opportunity to be more active.

“Safe physical activity, teamed with a positive lifestyle is good for you long-term,” Mr Goldberg said.

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