Yarra City Council’s Green councillors vote against upgrading Melbourne’s ‘saddest playground’

Yarra City Council’s two Green councillors have voted against installing play equipment at a playground dubbed ‘Melbourne’s saddest’ — and their reasoning has left parents fuming.

Avaline, 3, at Melbourne’s “saddest playground”. Picture: David Caird

Yarra City Council’s two Greens councillors have voted against installing play equipment at a playground dubbed ‘Melbourne’s saddest’ — all because it meant 7 per cent less grass.

Mayor Edward Crossland and former mayor Sophie Wade opposed the revamp proposal to spend $250,000 on play equipment for the Cambridge St park in Collingwood.

The change was passed 5-2, but the Greens’ stance sparked outrage from families.

Local mum Brielle Pope, who has a two-year-old daughter, said she was “absolutely appalled” by the Greens’ vote after previously saying they were in support of more equipment.

“The Greens absolutely cannot be trusted,” Ms Pope posted on Facebook.

“I’m shocked that Sophie, who’s standing in Collingwood in the upcoming election, has basically just sealed her fate to lose the vote from families that reside in this ward.

“Putting 7 per cent of grass space ahead of children is disgusting, especially with their so-called inclusive values.”

Yarra City Council mayor Edward Crossland.

Former mayor and councillor Sophie Wade. Picture: Facebook

The overhaul was needed after Yarra’s previous makeover of the small park removed play equipment and replaced it with a single bucket swing and a few metal bars.

A slide, four-way rocker, mini trampoline and other play equipment is now set to be installed.

The original $2m makeover of the small park attracted national headlines in November when the previous playground was ripped up and replaced with a chin-up bar, balance beam and basket swing valued at $40,000.

The Herald Sun also revealed that artwork installed in the park, which included sculptures of two flying jumpers, had cost ratepayers $200,000.

Under the revised plan, the chin-up bar and two trees will be removed, the balance beam relocated and “line marking” for down ball added.

According to the council’s draft budget, ratepayers are expected to fork out $250,000 to pay for the revamp.

Yarra Residents Collective spokesman Adam Promnitz said the whole saga was a case study of what not to do.

“This is an expensive blunder that caused national embarrassment to the council,” Mr Promnitz said.

“Yarra has had to sheepishly admit that it got this horrendously wrong.”

The park, which is surrounded by high-rise apartment blocks filled with young families, was once home to slides, swings, seesaws and a climbing frame.

Avaline, 3, unhappy the kids play equipment was replaced with slippery metal poles. Picture: David Caird

One of two sculptures of flying jumpers added to the park at a cost of $200,000. Picture: Supplied

The proposed park review sparked spirited debate at a council meeting in February, amid claims later from some sections of the LGBTIQA community that they were being marginalised by “heteronormative discourses’’.

The Collingwood community was asked to select their preferred option for the latest revamp from four concepts with the new version – which included a slide – attracting 167 votes, ahead of 89 for no change.

There was less support for the two concepts which included a “climbing spinner” and a climber with monkey bars instead of a slide.

Of the respondents, 18 per cent identified as being part of the LGBTIQA community.

“Feedback in relation to the Cambridge Street Reserve indicates that the community see the park as a valuable, quality open space in Collingwood located in close proximity to nearby residential areas, businesses and schools,’’ the council report said.

The original $2m makeover of the small park attracted national headlines in November. Picture: David Caird

Local mum Brielle Pope, who has a two-year-old daughter, said while the revised plan was a “win” for families in the area, there remained a number of “flaws”.

Ms Pope, who teamed up with fellow parents last year to force the council to add more equipment, said they were frustrated they were restrained to four concepts during the consultation process.

“It wasn’t presented in a way that enabled people to provide feedback,” she said.

“We weren’t given the option to suggest alternatives.”

But she said instead of spending months on a drawn-out consultation process, the council simply should have admitted it “messed up” and added more equipment immediately.

“I can assure you that the money would have been better spent putting it towards equipment in the first place,” she said.

The council engaged Collingwood-based consultants Capire to analyse community feedback.