A Cessnock mother is urging parents and carers to be vigilant after finding fish hooks scattered near the play equipment at a local park.
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Amanda Vernon made the dangerous discovery when she was at Jeffery Park, Kearsley with her two-year-old daughter Sharli on Wednesday.
Ms Vernon said she found a bunch of hooks bound together with a sewing needle and cotton, and several more scattered around the rubber matting – about 30 hooks in total.
“We both had shoes on, luckily,” she said.
“I was disgusted – I don’t know why someone would do that.
“I know kids go [catching crayfish] in the creeks nearby, so I’m hoping it was just an accident, but the way they were scattered I don’t know.”
Ms Vernon notified Cessnock City Council and police about the incident, and council sent a works crew out immediately to clear the park.
Council advises community members who find dangerous objects or broken equipment (excluding needles) at parks or public places to report it to council on 4993 4100 during business hours, or the after hours emergency line (4918 1753) outside business hours.
Sharps or needles should be reported to the NSW Health Needle Clean-up Hotline on 1800 633 353.
Anti-social behaviour or criminal activities should be reported to police.