By Goya Dmytryshchak
Suspected arson attacks at the site of a giant flower sculpture in Altona Meadows have sparked calls for the area to be improved by the installation of a playground.
An eight-metre steel sculpture called Grow was installed at the corner of Queen and Merton streets in 2011 at a cost of $150,000 to Hobsons Bay council, including $94,000 for landscaping.
The corner site also has a memorial park bench dedicated to Altona Meadows teenager Allem Halkic, who died by suicide in 2009 after being cyber-bullied.
The latest fire, on Tuesday last week, was the second in three days.
Children were reportedly seen in the vicinity.
A previous fire, on the morning of December 31, had firefighters on scene for several hours.
Cr Michael Grech said he believed the site could be enhanced by a fenced playground.
“I think the site could be utilised a bit better,” he said. “So many people are at Central Square shopping centre (opposite) and there is no open space around.”
He said more seating would also help.
“Even for someone to grab some food on their break and sit in the park – make it a bit more attractive to walk to,” he said.
Hobsons Bay chief executive Chris Eddy said there were currently no plans to install a playground at the site.
“However, new landscaping works and plantings will take place later this year when it is more favourable to replant the vegetation damaged by the recent fires,” he said.
