Councillors are standing firm and have ruled out fencing off the Tamworth Regional Playground, arguing the idea would mean “accepting a lower standard of behaviour in the community”.
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Less than two weeks ago, Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) voted to spend an additional $65,000 for beefed up security measures at the $2.2 million playground following ‘ongoing anti-social behaviour’ on the grounds.
The Leader's readers took to social media to share their thoughts on the move, with a number of people calling for a fence to protect the facility at night.
Councillor Juanita Wilson commented on the community desire for a fence at the last council meeting and said leaving the ground open sent a bold message to any wrongdoers.
"Keeping it open is a statement that anti-social behaviour is not the standard we accept," she told The Leader.
"We will keep it open and deal with the problems. Dropping the social standard is too easy, and in Tamworth we aim to lift the bar."
CCTV measures will be rolled out in Tamworth along Bridge St and at the Riverside sporting fields, and combined with plans to boost the playground’s security, TRC is sending a clear message to the town’s vandals.
But Cr Wilson said the targeted measures wouldn’t create new criminal hotspots.
“We’re not moving the crime, we’re clamping down on it,” she said.
“It is worth throwing money at. We’re making it harder for for thugs and safer for others.”
Deputy mayor and council’s crime prevention committee chair Russell Webb said adding a fence to the playground would come at a cost to the overall look of the facility.
“It was never about cost, it’s about the amenity of the facility,” he said.
Cr Webb was firm in his view and said it would take a lot to change his mind on the matter.
“If we did decide to fence if off, its pretty much a lockout,” he said.
Crs Webb and Wilson agreed fencing the Kable Ave playground would set a precedent for other facilities in the shire.
“Would we have to fence the playground area at ANZAC park too?” Cr Webb asked.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
