Community
24 July, 2026
New slide sealed off
A new slide in Appin’s Toggerai Park is being inspected by contractors and will remain closed until those assessments have been completed.
A new slide in Appin’s Toggerai Park is being inspected by contractors and will remain closed until those assessments have been completed.
Wollondilly mayor Matt Gould said council closed the slide last Saturday “out of an abundance of caution” after reports that a second person had been injured using the playground equipment.
“We want Toggerai Park to be a fun and exciting place for the community, but we also need to make sure people can enjoy it safely,” Cr Gould said yesterday (Thursday).
Cr Gould issued an update after a series of “rather alarming” headlines and social media posts this week across the nation.
Some of the media reports have referred to it as the ‘slide of doom’.
Cr Gould said some of the commentary had been “a bit over the top”.
While there have been reports of ‘multiple’ injuries – including broken bones – only two have been officially reported to Wollondilly Shire Council.
Toggerai Park was built by the NSW Government under its ‘Parks for People’ program and still remains under its ownership.
Council is managing the day-to-day operations of the park ahead of its formal transfer into council ownership.
The park only opened recently – at which time Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully was filmed going down the slide and giving it his tick of approval.
Council notified the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure after the first injury was reported but sealed the top of the slide off with a metal cover last weekend after a second injury.
The nature of those injuries is unknown.
According to Cr Gould, the Department has confirmed the slides were designed, constructed and certified in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards for playground equipment.
“The important thing now is that the Department is able to complete its assessment and any issues identified are properly addressed.
“Hopefully that can be achieved while retaining the sense of fun and adventure that makes equipment like this such a great feature of the park.”
He described Toggerai Park as a “massive and beautiful space” that would be loved and enjoyed for decades to come.
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