City of Glen Eira demands $120 permit for throwing a frisbee

[Teh One Who Knocks]

John Masanauskas - Herald Sun




A COUNCIL has banned a group of teenagers from playing frisbee in a local park until they get a permit.

Yoav Silverstein, 17, and his mates have been getting together at Caulfield Park most Fridays to throw a frisbee around for some exercise.

But the schoolboys were stunned last week when a City of Glen Eira officer told them the activity was considered an organised sport and they needed a $120 permit to play.

Yoav explained that he and his friends caught up informally to play a frisbee game.

"It's just a bunch of guys who text each other or go on Facebook - different people show up every week," he said.

"It's like going to the park and playing soccer with some friends, it's not an organised game."

Yoav, who is completing his VCE, said the group would show up at the park todayin defiance of the ban.

"We will definitely be playing," he said.

Yoav's father, Michael, said the council was being ridiculous.

"They're just kids at the end of the school week doing something better than going down to the pub and drinking," he said.

"I just couldn't believe it. I thought my son was joking when he told me what happened."

Mr Silverstein said the council had quoted $120 for a one-off permit or a six-month permit costing $300-plus.

"It just seems exorbitant at any price," he said.

"We are all ratepayers in the area. This council bureaucracy is absolutely ridiculous."

Glen Eira councillor Michael Lipshutz, whose ward includes the park, said last night he wasn't aware of the incident but knew of people using the park to play frisbee.

"I'm certainly happy to investigate it and obviously if it's a bunch of kids playing who are not organised, I'd be happy to look at it," he said.

Cr Lipshutz said that the bylaw regarding organised sport had been drafted during the drought to help protect council parks and ovals.

"Given that the drought is now finished, council will have a look at it again and act sensibly," he said.

"The council is not heavy-handed."

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