Gardens elephant retiring after years of faithful service

After providing years of entertainment to the children of Oamaru, the elephant slide at the Oamaru Gardens is now easing into retirement.

Recently contractors removed the ladder and slide from the elephant after Council officers confirmed that it was no longer measuring up to the current New Zealand Safety Standard codes.

The slide was originally donated to the Garden’s playground by the Oamaru Round Table. Council’s parks officer, Jane Matchett, said that the elephant had reached a stage where repairing it to make it safe would be very expensive.

“It’s a shame the slide had to be removed, because it’s been such a great source of enjoyment for children over the years. But it just wasn’t safe any more and we were left with no choice but to remove it.”

Mrs Matchett said that the elephant structure itself, which has been an iconic part of the Garden’s playground, will remain in place in the meantime until plans for upgrading the Gardens and playground are decided.