Moorabbin Leader, Nov.17th 2010

Fury over attack in park

Residents say their concerns over Memorial Park safety after dark are ignored

 McKINNON residents are outraged a man was attacked and robbed in Memorial Park after their calls for lighting to be installed in the park were ignored. The 27-year-old Malaysian man was assaulted by a group of men while he was walking through the park, at the corner of Wattle Grove and McKinnon Rd, about 12.45am on Saturday, November 6. One man punched the victim in the face, and when he fell to the ground two other men began kicking and punching him before stealing his backpack. 

Embona Taskforce Sgt Andrew Collison said police did not believe the assault was racially motivated. But the incident has appalled residents, who say they have asked Glen Eira Council for years to put lights in the park to improve safety. The park’s complete darkness provided a ‘‘haven for scumbags’’ resident Annie Morrell said.

‘‘This attack could have been prevented,’’ Ms Morrell said. ‘‘I rang the council and asked them to do something about it and I was brushed off. It’s ludicrous. Someone will be attacked again.’’ Kate Deneiffe said she wrote to the council four years ago asking for lighting be installed at the park. But director of community relations Paul Burke said one reason the council did not install security lighting in parks was because it could ‘‘encourage the very antisocial behaviour we all try to discourage’’.

‘‘Council is working with the Caulfield police on this matter and we will have regard for any suggestions that they may have.’’

*************************************************************************************

 Costly artificial grass cheaper to keep, says council

 GLEN Eira Council has taken the unusual step of laying hundreds of metres of artificial grass on an Ormond roadside median strip. The median strip, between Tucker and East Boundary roads, separates a service lane from busy North Rd. Similar strips on the west side of North Rd are filled with concrete.  

Director of community relations Paul Burke would not reveal the cost of installing the synthetic grass, but Mary McKay from Easy Turf Melbourne said most companies would charge $ 65-$ 80 a square metre. This meant the cost of the median strip turf could have run to tens of thousands of dollars. Mr Burke said the council installed the turf because the narrow strip posed a ‘‘significant safety risk’’ to workers mowing and maintaining real grass. ‘‘(This) meant traffic management controls had to be put in place each time the strip was maintained. ‘‘While these controls protect the safety of the men and women in the work area, they can be a cause of frustration to busy motorists.’’ Mr Burke said the synthetic grass would be cheaper to maintain than real grass and ‘‘a further positive outcome was grass clippings that used to end up in the stormwater network no longer do so’’. 

*************************************************************************************

With this logic, we can assume:

  • Safety of staff is valued more highly than safety of residents
  • Spending millions on sports lighting is more important that lighting for safety