High-risers return to ground level

Life was slowly returning to the community of high-rise dwellers around Boyd Park this month as authorities managed the “cov-exit” by easing regulations around gatherings.

A mums’ group was meeting on the grass, gym sessions were underway, kids were on swings and the library chute was open.

The number of people who could meet in public was increased on June 1 to 20.

Caitlyn Gerecke, an instructor with the nearby F45 gym, was quick to take advantage of the new regulations.

She was in the park with a cart full of yoga mats and weights to run a session. “We’ve been running boot camps for two weeks now,” she said.

Kalpana Suraj, a seventh-floor resident of the Imagine Marco building, had been hanging out for the playground to re-open and was down at the park for a play date.

“It’s actually good because kids can play with the swings,” she said. “We got an email. I’ve kept checking on the library and the public area.”

The library chute opened on Wednesday and she had already taken back books. “I was here this morning,” she said.

As organisations adjust and re-open, the library will have to deal with a stockpile of books on loan.

Librarians reported that there were 20 books in the chute by noon on Thursday. The books are cleared daily and go into quarantine for three days then returned to the shelves.

Leigh Dwyer said he had coped with the closure of the library because they had plenty of books but the opening of the sandpit was big news for his three-year-old son Spencer.

The Dwyers live in Platinum Tower and are regular visitors to the park. Spencer has perfected his scooting during the lockdown.

“I work from home anyway,” Leigh, an IT professional, told Southbank News. He grew up in the suburbs but got used to high-rise living while working overseas.

“It’s been rough not being able to take Spencer to people’s houses,” he said. “We have a lot of friends in a similar situation.”

Not everyone in this community has rushed back down to ground level to mingle, however. Those over 65 are still wary.

Anne Fairhall, a 76 year-old resident of Southbank Central, has just started to visit her daughter and go for walks.

‘There’ll be a spike in COVID cases,” she said. “All the people downstairs in the park are young.” •