Parents keen for south-west playgrounds to reopen

Playgrounds across the state were closed on August 21 in response to high transmission rates of the COVID-19 Delta variant among children.

Koroit mother of two Danielle Stearman has taken matters into her own hands, purchasing deluxe play equipment for the family back yard.

"The first lockdown last year we bought a trampoline with all the bells and whistles. Then when we heard whispers there would be another lockdown this year we went out and bought the swing set," she said. "I didn't want the kids plugged into their screens the whole time."

Ms Stearman works from home, so she was also happy to have a way to keep her children entertained outside during lockdown. But she said her family was fortunate to have a large yard.

"My heart bleeds for friends, some of whom are single parents, who aren't able to do the same thing. It is devastating and debilitating," she said of the playground closures.

One Warrnambool mother of three, who asked not to be named, said her children were "really suffering" since the shutdown.

"We struggle unfortunately and are unable to afford play equipment in our yard," she said.

"One of my children has ADHD and gets bored very easily. TV, books, games, iPads, toys, none of it works anymore because they play with the same toys almost everyday."

She said she knew the measures were "for the safety of children and others" but felt her kids were missing a crucial outlet in their lives.

Director of the Royal Children's Hospital's Centre for Community Child Health Professor Sharon Goldfeld said the risks of keeping playgrounds open had to be balanced against the harm done by closing them.

"Where there's absolutely no virus circulating in the community there is no reason to have playgrounds closed," she said.

But Professor Goldfeld went further, arguing that even when there was virus in the community it was important to find safe ways to keep playgrounds open.

"Warrnambool won't be COVID-free forever, so we have to think about how to deal with it in the future and constantly balance that risk."

She said local governments and parents had important roles to play in making playgrounds as safe as possible.

"There are simple things like hand hygiene, making sure older kids are wearing masks, and having the play equipment cleaned down regularly," she said.

"Thinking in those ways will help keep playgrounds safer. We can't live in a COVID zero world, so we have to figure out how to minimise the risk."

On Monday Chief Health officer Brett Sutton said easing restrictions would happen very cautiously.

"There are literally millions of children orphaned by COVID," he said.

"There are families in New South Wales at the moment who are struggling with one or both parents being hospitalised or dying. Those are the mental health considerations for kids as for all of us."