Residents left to play waiting game

By Shaun Inguanzo
RESIDENTS fighting to have their local reserve upgraded have been dealt a blow of bad news after Greater Dandenong council indicated the reserve was a lower priority compared to others across the city.
The Star reported last week that 308 Dandenong South residents had signed a petition urging the council to immediately upgrade Noreen Cox Reserve in Tarene Street.
Petition organiser Anna Finikiotou said the reserve was packed with children on weekends.
She said families and their children were now demanding better facilities.
Ms Finikiotou said children currently had to use a park sign as soccer goal posts, meaning the ball was often sent flying into neighbouring residents’ backyards.
Among other requests were barbecue facilities, more seating and a new playground for younger children.
But the council this week referred to its Playground Strategy – a document that shows Noreen Cox Reserve will not be upgraded until as late as 2011.
“While the council will always take on board community requests for park and playground upgrades, if Noreen Cox Reserve playground is made a higher priority, inevitably another playground upgrade elsewhere in the city – determined in the strategy as a higher priority – will need to be deferred,” a statement from mayor Youhorn Chea said.
“It is all a matter of equity and balance,” he said.
The council said the reserve’s playground, built in 1999, was relatively new compared to others.
It said the Playground Strategy was the council’s ‘methodology’ for upgrading playgrounds, and that with limited finances it was not possible to upgrade all playgrounds or reserves immediately.