No Screaming Kids: Mount Eliza Residents Rise Up Against New Playground
By Carolyn Webb
2 July 2018
The sound of children playing makes many people happy, but for some residents in a sedate Melbourne neighbourhood, the prospect of “loud, screaming, noisy children” in a proposed playground would only be noise pollution.
It’s among the reasons residents of Mount Eliza have fired up in opposition to plans to install a playground in a small bushland park.
One local opined on social media that “the playground would bring in loud, screaming, noisy children which would disturb the calm and peaceful environment for the residents”.
Another irate homeowner, who lives on Sunset Crescent that borders the park and wished to remain anonymous, told The Age that she loved the area for its serenity, and “at my age I need a bit of peace and quiet”.
“Who wants to listen to screaming kids and squeaking playground equipment?”
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council said it has received signatures from 42 residents who do not want a bar of the playground, which was first floated by the Mount Eliza Woodland Residents Association.
Their complaints include that it will clog roads, harm the environment, be noisy and even reduce property values.
“I just want it left the way it is,” said George Imrei, whose McGown Road house backs on to the park. He is opposed any development of what he sees as a wildlife corridor.
“I don’t see the need to develop it more than it is now, just a natural space,” Mr Imrei said. “Any development would mean there’d have to be changes made to it. I envisage them pulling trees out.”
Chris, 74, a Sunset Crescent resident of more than 40 years, labelled the proposal “a farce” and “quite stupid” – he fears the playground could be an “overture’” to more development.
He said the existing Lorikeet Reserve and Mount Eliza North primary school, a block away, had three safe playgrounds and sports fields.
“You don’t need slides,” Chris said. “I’ve seen generations of children use that block to kick footballs, make up games, stop and pick flowers on it. They pick mushrooms in it. They walk dogs through it.
“I really think that that’s what it’s supposed to be, a natural playground without artificial stuff.”
The Woodland Residents’ Association’s Facebook page, arguing in favour of the playground as “a great meeting place” for local children, insists that no existing trees would be cut down to make way.
Playground supporter Shane Waugh, a local father of two, told The Age he could see nothing negative about a playground.
“There are a lot of young families around this area now,” he said. “The older generation have started to move out and downsize. So to move with the times, I think it would be good to have one.”
Shire spokesman Davey Smith said council had met the Residents’ Association to discuss the proposal, but had yet to consider the plan
