Lorne Trampoline park owners beg for a jump start to stay open

Lorne’s famed outdoor trampolines are set to close for good, devastating tourists and locals. This is why.

Kathy Landos with Olivia, 10, Lachie, 8, Samara, 11, Tahlia, 6, Evie, 7, and Ebony, 5 at Lorne Trampolines. Picture: Alison Wynd

After 45 years bringing joy to kids, the trampolines at Lorne are set to close for good if the state government does not step in and save them.

The owners of the iconic outdoor trampoline centre — located on crown land — have launched a plea for Tim Pallas to get the state insurer, the VMIA, to provide them with public liability insurance so they can remain in business.

Co-owner Kathy Landos said they had no options left after private insurance companies abandoned the industry because of rogue operators.

Luke Matthews, 12, from Brighton at Lorne Sea Baths.

Ms Landos told the Herald Sun she had considered removing the trampolines from the Lorne Sea Baths precinct but knew it would devastate locals and tourists alike.

“Grandparents were on the trampolines. They are part of the heritage in Lorne.”

She hoped the Victorian Treasurer would extend the state’s insurance to them because they were on government land.

“We are an extraordinary case … they are our landlords,” she said. “We are happy to pay a cost, whatever that may be. We just need some form of public liability insurance.”

Ms Landos said the centre had an extremely low accident level — about two individual issues for every 30,000 jumps — and her safe operation should not go under because of other businesses’ practices.

Closed for most of 2020 due to COVID, the owners hope to take advantage of the “best season in a very long time”.

An online petition urging the Andrews government to intervene has already garnered more than 1500 signatures.

Felicity Koch said the trampolines needed to be protected.

“The tramps should be a heritage-listed icon in Lorne,” she wrote. “The are a significant historical feature of the town … We are a second-generation tramps-using family.”

Lorne Trampolines is closed because of insurance problems. Picture: Alison Wynd

Longtime fan Robyn Mason agreed. “Lorne would not be Lorne without the trampolines,” she wrote.

Geelong-based Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson said the Victorian Government needed to “show some compassion” and save the business.

“The Lorne trampolines have brought joy to thousands upon thousands families for decades,” Senator Henderson said.

“It would be utterly heartless for the Victorian Government to continue to sit on its hands as this business collapses.”

The VMIA is able to provide insurance to the private market in limited circumstances.

“The Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority is working with the operators of the Lorne Trampoline Park regarding the business’s insurance requirements,” a government spokesman said.

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Originally published as Lorne Trampoline park owners beg for a jump start to stay open