Dandenong Council: Basketball rings, swings in Covid lockdown
As lockdown restrictions start to bite, a south eastern council has removed basketball rings to keep kids safe, and it’s now eyeing off swings.
South East
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A suburban council has removed basketball rings from its playground to stop kids using them during the lockdown and is even considering getting rid of swings.
The drastic measure being considered by Greater Dandenong Council has been attacked as “outrageous” by one councillor.
At a recent meeting, it was revealed the “challenges” council staff faced in enforcing the restrictions at Dandenong Park.
Last Friday, council workers removed basketball rings at the park after complaints from locals residents.
In an e-mail seen by the Herald Sun, the council’s city director, Paul Kearsley, wrote to local MP and state cabinet member Gabrielle Williams. and a member of her staff on Friday, noting their concerns over the ongoing use of the basketball court at Dandenong Park.
“People have consistently broken the locks,” Mr Kearsley wrote, referring to measures taken to restrict access to court.
“People are using angle-grinders to break even the strongest and most expensive locks we can get.”
At the meeting, a council staffer said: “We are looking at what equipment we can decommission, for example removing swings.”
Mayor Angela Long said softer measures, such as tape, had proved futile.
“You put tape around (equipment) and people just seem to tear it down,” Cr Long said.
“I’m supportive of taking swings down if it’s to save children’s lives.”
But Cr Tim Dark said it was “outrageous” to decommission swings.
“In Dandenong we have a massive problem with young kids who are locked up in comparatively small homes and properties, and we have decided to rob them of the one small bit of exercise they enjoy,” Cr Dark said.
Mr Kearsley said lights had been decommissioned at the park and anyone breaking restrictions would be reported to police.
“We have made the Dandenong (police) station aware of the situation, and they will increase their patrols of the area.”
The Andrews government move to ban the use of playgrounds and all equipment has come under heavy fire since it was imposed last week — with a growing number of experts questioning its scientific justification.
Dandenong is not the only council to cry foul on the basketball rings, with inner city councils Melbourne and Yarra also putting them out of bounds.
In Yarra’s case, it’s believed the rings were taken down partly because the council was concerned that any fencing put up to keep the public out would be vandalised.
Keen player Alex Redlich said he understood the action, but there should have been a compromise so kids could still get exercise.