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Work will resume this week to rebuild a Kangaroo Flat playground which has been torched twice in the last three years.
The Allingham Street Reserve Playground was rebuilt after it was almost entirely destroyed by an arson attack in 2012 – only to be burnt down again last year in similar circumstances.
In total there have been three arson attacks on playgrounds in Bendigo over the last four years, which have cost the city more than $60,000.
The Cooinda Park rainbow slide was destroyed in a suspected arson attack during the early hours of Sunday morning, with damage costing up to $200,000.
In Kangaroo Flat, the Allingham Street Reserve Playground has been torched twice in three years.
On each occasion, the bill exceeded council’s $20,000 insurance excess.
City of Greater Bendigo natural and passive reserves team leader Orrin Hogan said council’s policy was to rebuild assets to at least the same standard as they were prior to being vandalised, as quickly as possible.
However he said reconstruction had been delayed this time around because it was a repeat attack and that it may be another 10 weeks before the park is once again open to the public.
“The second incident in 2015 had a lot of consistency with 2012 in terms of where it is believed the fire was ignited, as well a consistencies to a pattern of similar destruction of equipment,” Mr Hogan said.
“This will be a more lengthy process in terms of the insurance claim – because the fire was in the same playground, the insurance company had a lot more questions around what steps we had taken to avoid another arson attack.”
Mr Hogan said the supplier had also had difficulty finding replacement playground equipment.
“But we are hoping to have it all installed before next school holidays … in about eight weeks or 10 at the absolute worse.”
The first time the playground burnt down, 80 per cent of the play equipment had to be replaced – including two slides, multiple decks, two climbing structures and a tunnel – with the damage bill totalling $26,000.
Council insurance policy has an excess of $20,000, meaning the insurance company covered $6000 of the bill.
In last year’s fire, about 70 per cent of the equipment had to be replaced, with the damage totalling $25,000. Bendigo Police have not charged anyone in relation to the two arson attacks.
Mr Hogan said council would look at ways to improve security following the string of playground arson attacks – but called on residents to keep a vigilant eye on their local parks.
“We do have CCTV cameras in some public areas, it may not be appropriate there though it is an option,” he said.
“But playgrounds have a great of deal passive surveillance from neighbours and it’s important they contact police if they see any suspicious behaviour.”
