Maitland parents are calling for council to enforce a monitoring system of a large Rutherford sports oval after glass was found scattered around the field and the toilets were covered in filth.
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Parents and staff at St Patrick’s Primary School, Lochinvar, were forced to postpone the school’s recent sports carnival at the Max McMahon Oval with the venue deemed a major health hazard.
“I was relieved when the carnival was postponed because I have never seen filth like it,” the school’s P&F secretary Jan Ihlein said.
“But also the stench in the stands was unbearable and we just couldn’t have had the children sitting in there. These grounds are just not protected so anyone can come in here and do what they like.”
School principal Peter Treloar made the decision to postpone the school’s annual athletics carnival after health and safety concerns were brought to his attention.
“While the track was in good condition, the poor state of the toilets and the large amount of broken glass found in the spectator area and on the grass meant that I was not prepared to allow the carnival to proceed at that venue,” Mr Treloar said.
The school’s P&F president Bettina Chandler confirmed the school had phoned Maitland City Council’s emergency number the night before, but didn’t receive a response.
“We pay to hire these venues, so council needs to come in and make sure these ovals are clean and up to standard,” Ms Chandler said.
“It was so disappointing for the kids because they were coming to a new venue, but we’ll be taking the carnival somewhere else now.”
However, council has denied responsibility for the facilities.
“The seasonal user group is responsible for ensuring the cleanliness of the toilets and surrounding amenities for that ground,” a council spokesperson stated.
“Unfortunately, council does experience vandalism from time to time at its sportsgrounds, which is beyond its control and that of the user group.”
The spokesperson said council explored the use of McKeachies sportsground (at Aberglasslyn) as an alternate venue to Max McMahon Oval but, in this case, it was unavailable the new grounds were having goal posts installed and linemarking done.
Maitland AFL chairman Club David Bainbridge echoed the sentiments of the concerned parents.
“We have about 150 juniors and 50 adults in our club and we are forever cleaning up broken glass, painting over filthy language painted on the walls and picking up syringes,” he said.
“And I don’t blame the parents for getting upset about this because the oval was a complete mess and not safe at all.
“Ideally, this oval needs a fence to serve as some sort of protection because as soon as we clean it up, it’s a mess again.”
