Kayle Galaxidis looks at the section of Fairy Meadow's Guest Park playground destroyed by fire. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER
Pint-sized patrons of a popular Fairy Meadow playground only have half the fun they used to after an arson attack nearly two months ago.
Wollongong City Council has erected a fence around the damaged section of the Guest Park playground that was destroyed by fire in August.
Plastic playhouses remain half melted while some equipment has been burnt to the ground at the playground, close to the Princes Highway shopping strip.
Corrimal parents Kylie and Tony Galaxidis bring their two-year-old son Kayle to the playground, and said it was a shame it had been left in such a condition.
"It's sad that there are vandals who would destroy play equipment for children," Mrs Galaxidis said.
"And I'm also disappointed that it's taking such a long time to clean it up.
"Even if the money isn't available to replace it straight away, the section that has been damaged should be removed as it looks bad and it still smells foul."
Mrs Galaxidis said Kayle enjoyed playing in the section of playground not affected by vandalism, but she was hoping to see the whole playground available for kids soon.
"We do have a lot of good parks around Wollongong, and some great new ones, but he enjoys it here and I hope it's fixed for the summer months," she said.
A number of Wollongong City councillors contacted by the Mercury yesterday were unaware of the damage to the playground, but Deputy Lord Mayor John Dorahy said he was "shocked" by the arson attack.
"It's very poor taste that a kids' playground has been targeted by vandals," Cr Dorahy said. "It shows a complete lack of consideration for others ... "
A Wollongong City Council spokesman said insurance paperwork was responsible for the delay and the playground would be back in operation in about five weeks.