The Rural City of Murray Bridge (RCMB) has offered a formal apology for the ‘premature’ re-opening of the Sturt Reserve Playground after the 2022/2023 Murray River floods.
Murray Bridge families had posted about their concerns regarding the state of the playground on a Facebook community group over the weekend, expressing concern about the dirt, cobwebs and graffiti on the equipment.
“In a sincere and candid message, we extend our deepest apologies for the premature reopening of the Sturt Reserve Playground on October 16, 2023. We wholeheartedly accept our responsibility for this lapse and recognize the frustration it may have caused within the community,” an RCMB representative said in a statement.
According to Council, the floods resulted in damage to the playground’s soft fall flooring and delays in the supply of essential soft fall materials extended the repair timeline, leading to an unplanned nine-month closure.
“In our eagerness to welcome the community back to the Sturt Reserve Playground, we inadvertently overlooked the necessity for a thorough cleaning and preparation process.”
A comprehensive cleaning and equipment inspection was conducted yesterday, Tuesday October 17.
“We are delighted to announce that the playground has now been thoroughly cleaned and rigorously tested to meet the highest safety standards, ensuring it is once again ready for the community to enjoy.”
The news comes as Council is actively pursuing federal funding to create a state-of-the-art $15 million play precinct at Sturt Reserve.
