The primary school received a grant from the Federal Government’s Investing in our Schools program to install the impressive playground equipment early last year.

The playground was only used for a few weeks before a falling tree prompted an audit of every tree within the school perimeter.

Former Parents and Friends Committee (P&C) President Ian McGrath said the audit found more than 20 trees were under stress and in need of repair. About six of these trees were in the vicinity of the new playground.

It is a problem caused by years of drought and water shortages, a problem shared by a number of schools throughout the state. In Yass, all problematic trees have been removed or trimmed in the upper level of the school. However, the cost of removing the trees around the lower end playground is well out of the school’s global funding budget. As a result, the new playground, which is worth tens of thousands of dollars, has been declared out of bounds.

New Yass Public Principal Jenny Garnett said the project was now subject to tender.

The Department of Education has provided a further $5000 to assist in the removal of the trees.

“That is what the Department has offered but we still need a lot more. It is still out of our financial range and we don’t have the funding for that,” Mr McGrath said.

Current P&C President Robyn Diamond said the safety of the students at the school was paramount. Mrs Diamond said everyone hoped the children would be on the playground by the end of the year.

“The P&C hopes the Department provides enough funding to support the school in removing the trees.

“We are hoping the students will be on the playground by the end of the year. The P&C is working with the school for the same outcome,” Mrs Diamond said.