Petitioning for a better Noreen Cox Reserve are, from left,
By Shaun Inguanzo
CHILDREN desperate for new play equipment in a Dandenong South park will have grown up by the time Greater Dandenong council upgrades Noreen Cox Reserve in 2010.
Residents surrounding the reserve are frustrated that their children have a lacklustre reserve with just one swing, a seesaw and a slide.
Children playing soccer must use the reserve’s signposts as goals, meaning balls are kicked in the direction of neighbouring homes and often into their backyards.
Beswicke Court resident Anna Finikiotou, 64, has lived in Dandenong South for 25 years and said Greater Dandenong council had neglected the park during that time.
“It has been a depressing park for many, many years,” she said.
“Nothing has been done to it and the children are very upset at the fact there is nothing there for them.”
Ms Finikiotou said families were also victims of neglect.
“The families don’t have a choice to even have a barbecue or sit and watch the children play because there are only two benches to sit on.
“There are no drinking taps for children, no toilets, nothing.”
Ms Finikiotou took it upon herself to collect 308 signatures for a petition that she handed to Greater Dandenong council this month, urging the council to give the Noreen Cox Reserve immediate attention.
But the playground is not accounted for in the 2007-08 council budget.
In fact, under the council’s playground strategy, it is planned for a $30,000 upgrade in the 2010-11 financial year.
Ms Finikiotou said children using the reserve had received an early taste of bureaucracy.
“They were so disappointed when I spoke to them on Saturday and told them the park would not be upgraded soon,” she said.
“They said that they would be too old to play (by the time it was upgraded).
“I said to them this is bureaucracy, so what can you do?”
The Star contacted Greater Dandenong council for a response but did not receive a reply before going to print.
