Why is it so? Corrigan's Playground
- The Beagle
- Jan 15, 2017
- 2 min read
Dear Beagle Editor, WHY IS IT SO?
I am a resident and a rate payer of this shire and for the last 10 years I have frequented Batehaven shopping centre usually on a day by day basis. I watched the development of Corrigan’s Park play ground area and I have seen many children enjoy this area, it was developed into a secure fenced park with a disabled swing that was widely publicised as that set it apart from other parks in the area.
Last year I watched with dismay the dismantling of the park and play equipment being ripped out. I, like many, questioned why this was happening. Several reason were given, one being the establishment of a park that would provide additional disabled play equipment , another was given that the original underground pipes that had been placed at the park were faulty, yet another reason given was that the pipes had been laid incorrectly the wrong way around resulting in the water flowing back into the park and flooding it.
For months we have all watched eagerly for the establishment of a new park, rumoured to cost $1.6 million dollars. The park is now open and it would appear that we have a park that is yet to be fenced, a park with a sand pit that could be a health hazard for our children and play equipment potentially that is dangerous. I am referring to the play equipment that has been located near the car park that children can throw balls into. Last week I watched a children trying to throw a ball into this equipment, the ball bounced, hitting a car parked in the car park, and kids being kids one chased the ball which bounced off a parked car. The ball then continued to roll across the car park in front of a car entering the car park, luckily the driver of the car was able to stop in time just as the child went to retrieve the ball. Given the extreme temperature last week some days it was obvious the park was not being patronised due to the lack of shade facilities in the park.
The Council engaged a consultant to design this park. Questions should be asked such as: - why would you place play equipment so close to a car park? - why wasn’t the park fenced as soon as it was reopened - why was a sand pit placed in the park when it is obviously an unsafe and contentious health issue and - why weren't shade covers built over the play equipment? If in fact it is true that the underground pipes were faulty has the Council commenced action to recover cost that has occurred due to the alleged “faulty pipes”? WHY IS IT SO?? Name and address supplied
