Stolen Riverton swing could cost ratepayers
The cost of a missing seat from a swing set in Riverton could fall on ratepayers if it is not found.
The basket from a swing set at the Taramea Bay playground was reported missing by Riverton Aparima community board chairman Blair Stewart last week.
The missing piece of equipment seated children and was suspended from the swing frame by two chains.
Stewart thought bolt cutters or a handsaw may have been used to remove the basket by cutting the chains.
After contacting the playground equipment supplier, he was told it would cost about $3000 to replace.
‘‘It’s ratepayers’ money,’’ he said. ’’I guess we will replace it at some stage [if it is not found].’’
Stewart said he had often seen parents with young children climb on to the swing using it and it was ‘‘very popular’’ munity.
He was ‘‘gutted’’ to see the basket was missing.
‘‘I just can’t [understand why] with the com- people would do that, especially in a children’s playground. They’re low-lives,’’ he said.
Stewart said it could have been missing before he noticed its absence, but he was not sure for how long.
After contacting police and the Southland District Council, he had placed flyers in the supermarket, appealing to members of the public to contact Riverton police if they knew anything about its whereabouts.
Senior Constable Kelvin Templeton, of Riverton, said they thought the basket would be somewhere in Riverton.
‘‘Hopefully someone knows where it is and they’ll let us know about it,’’ he said.
If a person was found to have stolen the basket, they would be liable for a theft charge, he said.