Park falls short of standard

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 510, 2 November 1993, Page 2

Park falls short of standard

• Old hospitals; old flowering cherry trees and old play-ground equipment; all part of this community and all had their day. The relentless march of time gets us all in the end. I'm starting to resemble one of those cherry trees reedy-arms and a blowout from the waist down. 'Ray Playstay', ( Ruapehu Bulletin 26 October), is obviously unfamiliar with the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and the New Zealand Playground Safety Standard (NZS 5828:1986) and its ramifications for the Ruapehu District Council. That would mean if any of the playeround eauioment was potentially dangerous or the ground unduly hard, there would be a prima facie breach of the requirements of section 16 of this Act. The best and only option then for the council is to remove all the equipment and build at Christie Park with a core of new equipment purchased from a manufacturer who designs in accordance with NZS 5828:1986 and in most cases to a more stringent standard.

Jubilee Park's siting across from the shops is not a particular plus; all winter visitors use the mountain road and a simple sign catches all those business people with hours to spare who just happen to have a backseat crammed with children. With regards to Ray Playstay' s remark about shady appeal: I would remind him/her that Jubilee Park has a less than salubrious past re: children, and more recently the trees were home for an unsavoury character intent on winter sunbathing, amongst other things. The trees have made the equipment surfaces slimy and hence dangerous with inadequate drying resulting. Christie Park is open to view and particularly well drained; a big plus in this climate. Slopping on hats and slapping on sun-screen is the option here. Contrary to Ray Playstay's opinion, no care-giver has ever said to me they liked the equipment and siting. The central thrust of a playground is that it be inviting to children; it falls way short of that description. People

have expressed fear of using it and one would have to be a Meda McKenzie at times to negotiate some of its frequent lakes with boats of litter. One also has to keep in mind that not all our children are built like brick latrines and can hang by one finger on monkey bars upwards of an hour. There are also very young children and handicapped children who have no suitable equipment there unlike that which can be constructed with new modular equipment and structures such as wheelchair ramps. Fixing things means money and if one analysed the amount of money the council spent at Raetihi playground 'fixing things' (slide removal and an inadequate renovation of swings cost approximately $3500), a bit of extrapolation on the Ohakune site would indicate the figures involved even if 'fixing' was possible, which, in the main, it isn't. As the mother of a young child and also the

daughter of a war veteran both aspects concern me. Last year, five veterans paraded at Ohakune. My generation is the last seriously

affected by World War II. All around the world people are making war memorials and indeed cemeteries more userTurn to page 3

LETTERS

friendly. What about this scenario? The council, in conjunction with the Mainstreet committee, the army, RSA and interested community bodies and people, could redevelop the area with emphasis on its memorial aspect. The fort could be redeployed as a covered area for ANZAC day and associated permanent information boards. Safer ex-military equipment could be placed in the area, ie field guns. The grounds could then be re-developed as a mini-botanical garden with local native flora all clearly labelled. That would then be a true asset for the town. 'Lest we forget'.

Justine Adams,

Secretary, WHWC.