By Bonny Burrows
Maryknoll parents who have long advocated for a revamp of the town’s playground describe upgrades to surrounding parks as “a kick in the guts”.
Parents Stacey Edwards and Nathan Donnan say the town’s playground has been long neglected by Cardinia Shire Council despite safety concerns which include poking out nails, a slide not being secured to the ground and rusted equipment.
The parents say they aren’t after anything flash, just safe.
“We’ve brought it to the council and they won’t do anything about it. We just want it to be fixed up to be made safe for our kids,” Mr Donnan said.
Ms Edwards, who is a mother of two and a health teacher, said it was “really tough” to have residents’ pleas for repairs rejected only to then have the shire announce upgrades to “newer, flasher” playgrounds.
“They fix up new parks and ours hasn’t had any attention in at least 15 years,” Ms Edwards said.
Mr Donnan agreed, adding that the playground’s condition left children without a local place to play outside.
“It’s a bit upsetting because we’re not asking a lot apart from the safety of our kids and fellow residents of Maryknoll and surrounding districts that use the facilities.
“There is no other place that kids can go in our town,” he said.
Instead, the parents said children either had to be driven to Pakenham for play or, as was often the case, were left to play on roads and at the local fire station.
This was unsafe, they said.
“There is constantly kids riding their bikes dangerously on the roads through Maryknoll and are usually on a hill around a sweeping bend because that’s the only tarmac road,” Mr Donnan said.
“I don’t like complaining but our community is sick of it and frustrated that nothing gets done yet the council spends thousands upon thousands on parks elsewhere and refuses to even make ours safe.”
Cardinia Shire Council’s team leader passive reserve Kevin Alexander said the council engaged an external auditor to undertake annual playground safety audits to ensure playground equipment meets current safety standards.
“Council also carries out monthly safety and functionality inspections of all playgrounds.
“It was during these monthly inspections the nails were identified and rectified, and the edging of the sandpit has been scheduled for replacement within one month,” Mr Alexander said.
“All other play equipment at this site has been deemed safe and functional, albeit aged and, as originally designed for this playground, the slide was never cemented in.”
Mr Alexander said the playground had been identified for renewal in the council’s five-year Capital Works Plan.
