Council threat to fine kids for playing in a park

[pies4ever]

Council threat to fine kids for playing in a park
November 27, 2007

A GROUP of children have been nabbed for running around a park and threatened with fines by their council.

Glen Eira Council has ordered these cute "crooks" out of a Caulfield park and threatened to hit each one with a $250 fine if they return.

The children and their parents are furious after they were challenged by Glen Eira officers last Thursday and ordered out of Princes Park during after-school exercise.

The council says it is trying to protect the drought-affected park by making it off limits to any organised sporting groups without a permit.

However local families say the fun police are a bad joke.

In recent weeks, about eight children and parents from the three families have been meeting at the park after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The energetic youngsters run a lap of the three-oval park and play games.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22826528-2862,00.html

[stui magpie]

Where the **** are kids supposed to play if it's not in a park?

In their back yards? Oh, that's right, houses don't have them anymore.

On the road and get hit by cars?

On a footpath and get in the road of pedestrians?

Fair enough liniting "organised sport" on drought effected ovals but stopping some kids from having a run around?

Stop the world, I want to get off.

[John Wren]

that really is bollocks. how much is said permit?

[pies4ever]

Gaze, McCann blast Glen Eira council for fine threat
November 27, 2007

SPORT stars have blasted Glen Eira council for threatening to fine a group of kids $250 each for running around a park and causing too much wear and tear on parched grounds.

Running legend Steve Moneghetti, marathon mum Kerryn McCann and basketball champ Andrew Gaze said booting out the children because they don't have a permit for organised sport was ludicrous.

Glen Eira Council officers have ordered the eight kids and parents from three families out of Caulfield's Princes Park, saying it must be protected amid the drought.

Gaze, a father of four, said the decision seemed absolutely ridiculous.

"What knucklehead has misinterpreted the rules?

"It seems they've gone too far. How much damage could these kids do?

"You can't have a park for the people and not let them on it."

Gaze, who lives within the offending council's boundaries, demanded a re-think.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22829860-661,00.html

[Culprit]

What many don't realise the reason they have this rule is many sporting clubs that are not allowed to train on their grounds due to the drought are heading to these parks and training. Over zealous worker, not a stupid rule in these times though. It's happening everywhere not just there.

[stui magpie]

Agreed culprit, but if they can't distinguish between a sporting club and a few parents trying to get their kids active.................

[John Wren]

what was even more ludicorus was the directive from the council saying the kids can run on the walking track but only in pairs, not as a group.

the walkers will be up in arms shortly. as an aside, i am somewhat amazed at the indignant look i get when trying to cycle past those walking on a bike path that is clearly marked for cyclists only.

[Culprit]

[stui magpie]

^

LOL.

Funniest thing I've seen lately was a woman in a 4wd Merc in Sth Yarra trying to get our of her parking space with a removalist truck parked behind her. 5 different people tried to give her advise but she just kept going back and forward in the same spot for 20 minutes until the truck was emptied and moved. Couldn't drive a hot nail into butter..

And yes, they probably do. Maybe they don't have time to walk the kids to and from school, althouigh at that age, my kids were walking themselves to school.

The whole thing smacks to me of the council wanting the park to be for people to empty their dogs bowels and sit around and go "gee, Grass and trees". What if a bunch of 10 year olds wanted to have a kick of the footy just for fun or a hit of cricket with a tennis ball? that would be a group.

[Culprit]

That area is a well off area, they would have time..lol.

How often do we see drivers that have no idea when they are behind the wheel? Especially parking.

[ANNODAM]

Seeing people that cannot park their cars gives me the irrits!

And I see it everyday at school too! Mothers with these massive 4wd drive things that cannot parallel park for shit!

As far as not being allowed to use parks & gardens goes, we'd be up the clacker if we weren't allowed to use our park for my daughters weekly T-Ball game.

[HAL]

Where do you see it everyday at school?

[pies4ever]

Council backs down on threat to fine park users
November 30, 2007

CAULFIELD families celebrated a victorious return to a park yesterday after Glen Eira City Council reversed its controversial kids-off-the-grass stance.

Following two days of coverage in the Herald Sun this week, red-faced councillors and staff received a secret email ordering an end to the tough stance.

Premier John Brumby greeted the move, promising to reward the determined youngsters with a visit in the near future.

Last week a council officer ordered eight children from three families out of Princes Park in Caulfield and threatened them with a $250 fine per child if they returned.

The council initially backed the controversial order, saying organised sporting groups needed a permit to use the park.

But yesterday the Herald Sun saw an email to councillors and officers demanding an end to the extreme policy.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22845193-2862,00.html

[Culprit]

Nothing like a media beat up to make page 3..lol
I have advised my footy club to train there now.