The lights at Landcox Park consistently fail to operate at night on the side of the park when entering from either Keyes and Sunnyside avenues. I and a number of local residents notify the Council of these regular outages but the lighting continues to fail with approx 70% of the park in pitch-black darkness.

The current fixes to this known and recurring problem are not sustainable and reliable and the fault continues to occur.  The remedy seems stalled in budget preparation with no permanent fix supported by any clear execution date.

Given recent reports of an alleged rape at Dendy Park, youth bullying and assaults then Park lighting is a resident right and need to support public safety and of the utmost importance. Lighting to be left to ad-hoc fixes that are not permanent.

I am also concerned about the potential for increased vandalism and damage to the park and properties on the boundary that will divert and delay funding a permanent fix.

I AM SEEKING A COMMITTED response and date of execution before the end of April 2021 for a permanent fix. to ensure park lighting is functioning 365 days of the year.

I have been advised that Landcox Park is about to have installed some fitness equipment to target improved health for mature and older citizens. I would have thought lighting and the ability to have flat paths for wheelchairs, walking frames etc to safely access the park plus adequate sun protection would rank as much higher priorities. The ability to safely walk a dog with family in the early evening through the park should be a basic amenity, not something incessantly held up bureaucratic council red tape and failure to act.

Other than regular routine park maintenance no significant investment in improvements to the park and associated amenities has occurred during the over 15 years I have resided at my property that is on the park boundary.  Thankfully a new playground has commenced which is extremely welcome but it looks addressed to young infant children and the needs of children in the 10-15 age bracket once again get overlooked.  Glen Eira has clearly established a significantly higher baseline for their park facilities upgrades over the last 5 years.

For the same reason of Public Safety and better access for our youths and young children to exercise then, I am also advocating the immediate installation of lights to support the basketball and netball hoops and tennis wall in Hurlingham Park close the Fitness First and Tennis courts boundary.

No doubt in my mind the Fitness Equipment upgrade is a bit of pork barrelling to ensure some local longstanding council members secured votes from certain constituents to be returned to office. So a higher focus on public safety has to become a more urgent priority and commitment for the City of Bayside.

Council response to the most recent ticket 2nd March 2021  - The fault reoccurred 2 days after the last fix as at 31 March it has not been fixed.

We have received your customer request via Bayside City Council advising of lights out at Landcox Park. We have engaged an electrician to attend site to rectify this ongoing issue. I can advise that Council is aware of this and an upgrade to the wiring of the park’s lighting is planned,  subject to the approval of capital funding in the 21/22 financial year. Council is also upgrading the lights to a sustainable LED option in the coming months.