Tree swings, cubbies avoid the chop in Mosman Park

TREETOP cubbies on the verge of councils’ ire have narrowly avoided the chop in Mosman Park. Councillors last week rejected a review by Town staff that proposed banning cubbies, swings, verge gardens and bunting on suburban verges to make them “safe, waterwise, visually appealing and compliant”. But residents will need to apply for Town approval. Cr Andrew Maurice photographed swings, cubbies and garden beds he said had caused “no problem for several years” and was concerned sending “rangers around” would prompt resident outrage, but mayor Brett Pollock said rangers would only respond to a public safety risk. Mosman Park resident Marc Sheriff believed it was unnecessary “because as a parent I’m not going to build anything which is going to injure my kids”. “It would be disappointing if we had to take it down because the cubby has become a place of conversation with other people, and we can sit out here in the front and watch (daughter) Pearl play with other kids,” Mr Sheriff said. City of South Perth is amending its local law to allow verge swings, though cubbies are banned, while Subiaco revoked its ban on streetside play equipment in December. Late last year, one village curmudgeon photographed more than a dozen tree swings and lodged a complaint to the City of South Perth alleging they were a legal liability. Councillor Carl Celedin was one such resident whose street swing was targeted. He removed his swing but argued they encouraged community interaction as well as providing outdoor play for children. Como Dad Jake Prout agrees. “People use our swing all the time,” he said. “We’ve always enjoyed having people stop and have a chat with us when they walk past. “It encourages neighbours to talk to each other.” But nearby Peppermint Grove, Claremont, Cambridge and Nedlands have no plans to change rules prohibiting cubbies and swings. Peppermint Grove chief executive Don Burnett argued the suburb’s large blocks could easily cater for “these sort of installations” within their boundaries. A Cambridge spokeswoman said people could be fined $250 if requests for removal or mediation failed but no action was “normally” taken if the addition was found to be safe.