By Taylah Eastwell
A group of Upwey parents and carers have proved they are a powerful force, having had their concerns over lack of shade at Upwey Main St playground heard by council.
After joining forces over the Facebook page, Upwey Parents and Carers for Sun Safety, the group created a petition for a new shade sail to be installed over the play equipment.
Upwey mother and member of Upwey Parents and Carers for Sun Safety, Amy Muratore said it was “really exciting to have made a bit of headway with council”.
“I have a two-year-old and am a frequent user of the Upwey Main Street playground. One of the things when you are down there pushing your kid on the swing that comes up every time is that it’s a great playground, but it’s terrible that it doesn’t have a shade sail,” Ms Muratore said.
The original plan to head down to the park with a clipboard went out the window once Covid struck, with the petition moved online. The online setting did not halt the success of the cause, however, with the petition almost at 200 signatures from concerned locals.
“We had a playdate to discuss the best strategy to get council on board. We heard there was a lot of history of various groups trying to get it off the ground, and agreed our collective voices as parents added weight,” Ms Muratore said.
“We were hoping we could appeal to the fact it is a safety issue and particularly as years go on and the planets gets hotter, it is something that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.
“And also the fact that the Main St misses out on us buying a coffee or lunch and frequenting the gift stores because we have to go elsewhere with our kids,” she said.
Streeton Ward Councillor Cathrine Burnett-Wake and Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton met with Ms Muratore at the playground on Thursday, where the petition was officially handed over.
Ms Muratore praised the diversity of representatives on council this year.
“Different age demographics make for a more diverse council, we all have different needs and it is really great to see that represented on council,” she said.
Cr Burnett-Wake said the leader of Project Upwey Community Group, Andrew Peterson, raised the long-standing issue of the lack of shade with her at the start of her election campaign. She discussed the issue with the Director of Environment and Infrastructure for Yarra Ranges Council, who assured the shade issue would be promptly assessed.
“It was soon determined that the lack of shade in the playground needed to be rectified as a priority, and the council has set aside funding to resolve the issue. The tender process has begun, and it is anticipated the implementation of new shade will be completed in the coming months,” Ms Burnett-Wake said.
“Subsequently, a local parents’ group approached me about this matter. They have collected over 200 signatures, which again confirms that the lack of shade and sun safety in playgrounds is a hot button issue within the community,” she said.
Ms Burnett-Wake said “although council has a solution for Upwey in progress” she will be presenting the signatures at the next council meeting “to press the importance of ensuring sun safety – not just in Upwey – but across the entire Yarra Ranges Council area.”
