A QUINNS Rocks home owner has asked that the Fred Stubbs playground be relocated.
Robin Schneider, who owns a house opposite the playground, said access between the playground and car park on Ocean Drive was not safe, particularly for people pushing prams.
“It has never been properly planned in regard to parking and proximity to Ocean Drive in terms of danger from fast-moving traffic being so close to children on the swings,” he said.
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READ NOW“There is absolutely no parking alongside the grassed park and the existing playground.
“There is no angle parking or parallel parking next to the park and the only council-provided parking is down on the beachfront car park where the public toilets are and a very long way away from the playground and up a very steep inclined roadway.
“I have many pictures of mums with prams and children walking up the road from the car park against the traffic flow coming around the corner down to the car park and dodging cars to get out of their way.”
Earlier this year, the council approved shade sail installation at the park.
Mr Schneider also submitted an objection, on behalf of owners of Ocean Drive properties at the June council meeting, to the addition of shade sails at the playground.
He said the solution could be to defer the covering the playground with shade sails and investigate moving the playground down nearer to the public toilets and the existing parking area.
“This would take away the very real risk to the public and children of being hit by a car as they walk up and down the road from the parking to the playground and also up and down the road from the playground to the public toilets,” he said.
The City’s community and place director Debbie Terelinck said shade sail installation was pending community consultation and further consideration by the council.
“Given the standard nature, simplicity of the program and supporting petition, community engagement was to be undertaken as ‘informing’ residents.
“However, as a result of concerns raised by neighbours opposite the park, additional consultation has been undertaken with 33 households along Ocean Drive within view of the playground.”
Mrs Terelinck said the City had not received any complaints about parking or access to the playground since its installation in 2014.
However, she said the Quinns Foreshore Management Plan identified that pedestrian access from the car park to Ocean Drive required improvement, which would be done by February 2018 as part of the coastal erosion works.
In March 2014, the council submitted a motion on notice requesting a staged program to provide shade sails over playgrounds within the City.
“It was recognised that the City has a duty of care to ensure adequate protection for play equipment from UV,” Mrs Terelinck said.
“The program was created to install shade sails at a playground in each of the City’s three wards every year.
“The City intends to provide quality public open space that enhances community wellbeing.
“The provision of shade structures over playgrounds extends the hours of use and is generally welcomed by the community.”
The City prioritises shade sail installations based on a matrix of factors such as the level of playground usage and existing shade nearby, and had listed Fred Stubbs Park’s installation for 2017-18.
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