Hume’s playgrounds may have slides, swings, and seesaws but one crucial feature is missing – shade.
Councillors are now throwing some serious shade on that very fact.
Councillor Steve Gagen led the charge at the April 14 council meeting, putting forward a motion to investigate and improve the city’s approach to UV protection and shaded play spaces.
The motion, which was carried, calls for council officers to prepare a report on the best practice for shade provision, and consider including UV protection in Hume’s health and well-being plan.
“Good quality public spaces that have shaded areas are important for the health and well-being of Hume residents,” Cr Gagen said.
“Hume has low natural tree canopy cover and is impacted by the urban heat island effect, which causes higher local temperatures. Worse still, unshaded areas have dangerously high ultraviolet light levels.”
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with two-thirds of Australians expected to be diagnosed during their lifetime.
Cr Gagen warned that over 95 per cent of skin cancers stem from UV exposure – and that children, who often play outside without seeking shade, are particularly at risk.
“There’s a Melbourne playgrounds website that ranks suburbs on shaded places and Hume, I’m sad to report, comes dead last,” Cr Gagen said.
Councillor Ally Watson backed the motion, highlighting the need to create shade areas not just for children, but also for carers and parents.
Councillor Naim Kurt said the issue reflected broader concerns about the design of Hume’s public spaces, where features like shade structures are often considered non-standard.
Cr Gagen added that the danger of early sun exposure was lifelong.
“One of the reasons why I stress children in the motion is because with melanoma, you have to get two lots of exposure in your life–once as a child and then later on in adult life,” he said.
“Children don’t choose to do risky things–adults might, but kids need protection.“
