Park Fence Sparks Outcry Over “Overreaction”
$10,000 Safety Barrier Deemed Wasteful by Local Mother
A new safety fence bordering a playground has ignited controversy in Tinwald, with a local mother labelling the near-$10,000 installation an excessive and unnecessary expenditure by the Ashburton District Council.
Council Cites Drowning Risk for Fence Installation
The Ashburton District Council erected the barrier this month following concerns that children could drown in adjacent stormwater ponds. These swales, designed to manage surface water runoff, have previously experienced flooding that necessitated pumping after heavy rainfall.
Amanda Burrows, a mother of two living opposite Proctor Park, voiced her strong opposition, stating, “the new fence is a complete overreaction.”
She expressed that local residents are unclear about the fence’s purpose and questioned its necessity.
“We don’t see the point of it. I can see the logic to some degree, but it feels like a waste of resources that could have been invested in other safety issues around town.”
—Amanda Burrows, Tinwald Resident
Burrows described the situation as “PC gone wrong,”
questioning the proportionality of the measure. “I get wanting to protect our children, but it feels like a world gone mad … will we start fencing off trees to stop kids climbing them in case they fall out?”
she asked.
Concerns Echoed at Council Level
The decision to install the fence stemmed from worries raised by Peter King, who highlighted the proximity of the playground to the stormwater drainage, suggesting a potential drowning hazard. His concerns were not isolated; councillors Neil Brown and Carolyn Cameron recalled discussions during a site visit before the playground’s construction, where the location next to the swales was indeed questioned.
At a three waters committee meeting on June 25, councillors agreed to the fence as an immediate step to mitigate the perceived drowning risk. However, neighbours like Burrows dispute the level of danger.
Playground Usage Does Not Warrant Risk, Say Critics
Burrows pointed out that the playground is predominantly used by teenagers, not younger children who might be more vulnerable to the risks posed by water-filled swales. “There isn’t a lot there for the younger age children that would be at risk of drowning when the swales have water in them,”
she stated.
As a teacher, Burrows acknowledged the importance of risk mitigation but proposed a more cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing solution: extending the existing garden border. “They just needed to extend that out, and it would look far nicer than what they have done,”
she suggested.
Council infrastructure and open spaces manager Neil McCann confirmed the permanent fence installation cost $9500. He indicated that the plan to extend the garden would not proceed, as the funds had already been allocated and spent on the fence.
In New Zealand, public safety spending on infrastructure is a recurring debate. For example, the Auckland Council recently allocated $500,000 for safety improvements at popular but hazardous coastal walkways, demonstrating a different approach to addressing public risk (NZ Herald, 2023).
