Neighbourhood Appalled At Council’s Cuts To Disability Playground

FOLLOWING the Upper Hunter Shire Council’s decision last night to slash budget from Amaroo Park, president of the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre, Stephen Watson, said the community group would not be able to build an all-ability playground and will need to return $120,000 in grant funding.

Mr Watson said they were shocked the first vote of Council under Mayor Collison was to remove funds from a disabled park project.

“The Committee were appalled that the Acting Mayor voted to remove $45,000 from the Amaroo disability park project,” said Mr Watson.

“The $60,000 is in the Council budget, the park equipment at Amaroo Park is overdue for renewal and Council is receiving the funds from SNRC to not only replace the park equipment, but build a park that could set a standard for all parks across the Upper Hunter Shire and meet their own standards as set out in the adopted disability plan,” he said.

“However Council have made the decision to support the project, but withdraw $45000 from their budget and expect a community group to meet the additional expenses or change the park,” he said. 

“The only way forward the Committee can see to build the park with the reduced funds is to take away the ability play equipment and we will not support this or build a structure that would not be suitable for every ability,” he said.

“SNRC were responsible for the funds that built the children’s bike track at Amaroo Park and advocated for the toilets that have recently been installed,” he said. 

“This playground equipment would of completed the park but as the Splash and Play park is not supported and with the reduction in funds for this all ability park SNRC cannot complete either project and will have to return the $120,000 to the state government,” said Mr Watson.

Lee Watts, manager of the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre thanked Cr Abbott for her support of the project and was shocked at Council’s decision to cut funding to the park.

“I am very disappointed and still cannot believe that the Councillors Collison, Campbell, Brown and Driscoll thought so little of meeting the recreational needs of all children with all abilities that they would reduce their financial support even though the amount of $60,000 was already in the budget,” said Lee Watts.

The Committee commended Mr Havyatt, Council’s Director of Infrastructure Services and the Centre’s manager Lee Watts for “their foresight in recommending a park that would meet the recreation needs of every ability and age.”