Wanted:New Raetihi playground

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 465, 8 December 1992, Page 3

Wanted:New Raetihi playground

The local health committee wants the playground on the corner of the Parapara Highway and Grey Street in Raetihi demolished, and the Waimarino Community Board agrees with them. Waimarino Health Watch Committee representatives Justine Adams and Jenny Dekker asked the board at their meeting last Thursday to have the playground equipment demolished rather than repaired, and put the money saved towards new, up-to-date play ground equipment. New playground equipment is more stimulating for children and also meets Standards Association and ACC standards, meaning the accidents associated with older-style equipment are avoided, said Mrs Adams in their submission. The existing site has many advantages including: being close to the camping ground, the main highway, swimming baths, tennis and squash courts and school; it is open and sunny with no hazards such as waterways. "The previous apparatus was totally unsafe and resulted in one critically injured child and a raft of other lesser accidents in the past six months," stated the submission.

They recommended that money already budgeted to provide safety matting for the playground be put towards the new equipment and that bark be used around it until funds can be allocated for this at a later date. The cost of the new equipment, installed with voluntary labour, was estimated at $12,551 by council officer Don Sattler. $5000 was available from the 1992-93 council annual plan, leaving $7551 to come from the 1993-94 annual

plan. The Plunket Society have indicated they may be able to help council with a community fundraising venture, said technical services director Bruce Dobson in his report. Chairman Colin Webb suggested the local Rotary Club be asked to help, as they were involved with building the original playground. Asked about past vandalism problems and whether the new equipment would be a target,

Mrs Adams said "is that the way we should think - that because of vandalism Raetihi won't have anything." They agreed that if it were a community project and neighbours were asked to participate, vandalism could be discouraged. "It would be a test for the community to get it on site and see that it stays there," said board member Bob Peck. He said he would approach the Rotary Club to seek their support.