Narromine exercise equipment concerns

Narromine’s General Manager responded to a backlash about the new outdoor exercise equipment along Culling Street following a number of Facebook comments from residents stating their concerns over the recently established outdoor exercise equipment. 

Comments emerged regarding its location that one concerned local said “seems very close to the road”. 

Amid concerns Narromine Shire General Manager Jane Redden told the Narromine News the equipment and its location is part of a much larger plan. 

“I know there has been some concern about the location of the equipment, but we have lots of really good reasons why we’ve placed it there,” Ms Redden said. 

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Ms Redden said the project is part of the shire’s community strategic plan, which had a strong focus on providing access to create an active lifestyle. 

“An active lifestyle came across very clearly though our community consultation, so people are really wanting to have access to things that create an active lifestyle.”

“The whole idea is when people are doing the walking path [the exercise equipment] is part of the trail, and encourages people to use the path,” Ms Redden said.

The exercise equipment comes after the council secured $783,000 from the NSW government under round one of the Stronger Country Communities fund.

One of the primary concerns raised by residents is the exercise equipment’s distance from the busy road, with the fear of safety of children. However Ms Redden has hit back at comments reminding people they should be supervising their children at all times. 

“Equipment is actually 7 to 8 metres from the road so it’s not a couple of metres from the road that’s been put to me,” said Ms Redden. 

“It is also for adults, it is not equipment to be used by children, so whilst we appreciate people are saying they want to take their children there, that’s not the idea.”

“People aren’t supposed to put their kids on the playground while they go and exercise, children in playgrounds should be supervised at all times,” she said. 

Ms Redden also told the Narromine News the current location of the exercise equipment was the recommended location to ensure safe supervision of the community. 

“It is recommended it should be placed in a location where there is passive surveillance from the community. It is an unsupervised activity and if somebody was to hurt themselves and it’s tucked away where no one can see them then it is very unsafe,” said Ms Redden.

“There is also the potential for vandalism. It’s very expensive equipment and it needs to be in an area that has passive surveillance so the community can see what’s going on.” 

Further concerns were raised with regard to the openness of the outdoor gym, with some residents feeling self conscious about passing by traffic. Yet Ms Redden said that there will be open fencing and bollards placed along the road and landscaping to create a better divide between the highway and the equipment.

“We couldn’t place it any closer to the levee bank because there’s going to be an upgrade of the levee bank in the not to distant future so we don’t want to be taking it down.”

“We are actually going to be re-using the internal fencing from the pool to create a buffer along there.”

“Really watch this space, it’s not complete it will have all of those things in place really before it should be used,” Ms Redden said. 

Have more to say email zaarkacha.marlan@fairfaxmedia.com.au