Parents in Melbourne’s Collingwood suburb are outraged after the local council demolished a much-loved children’s playground, only to replace it with a less equipped one.
Following the Yarra City Council's decision, a petition has been launched, calling for a reconsideration of the AUD$2 million (NZ$2.14) upgrade which they labelled a "failure".
The new playground now features only a single swing and a set of “unreachable” gym bars, a stark contrast to the previous facilities.
The redevelopment took months to complete and was part of a local urban initiative aimed at increasing green spaces in the area. The City of Yarra Council and a state government grant funded the project.
Parents have likened the new playground to a prison.
One parent told 9News, “It’s not very inviting for children".
"[My daughter] takes one look at it and runs in the other direction.”
The original playground had two slides and multiple climbing structures.
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