By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
NARRE Warren North MP Luke Donnellan has hit out at the City of Casey’s decision to plant shrubs between a children’s playground in Hallam and a busy car park instead of installing fencing.
The council’s decision to plant a row of thick-hedged bushes at the Spring Square Shopping Centre site comes after a local mother last month called on the City of Casey to re-install the fence.
The section of fencing between the Spring Square car park and the playground next to it was removed last year during the centre’s re-development and has not been replaced.
While building regulations did not require full fencing around the playground, its installation is common sense, Mr Donnellan said.
“The local council has admitted there is a safety problem by saying they will put more plants in the garden to stop children running onto the road, but are shirking their responsibility by refusing to build a fence, which would be much safer than a few shrubs which children can still run through,” he said.
City of Casey Manager Parks and Reserves Trevor Griffin dismissed the criticism and said the hedge planting will begin within a week.
“While the playground is fenced on three sides and has a raised embankment providing a barrier on the fourth side, fencing should not be considered a replacement for supervision,” he said.
“Seating has been provided for parents and carers to supervise their children while they use the playground.”
