A beloved children’s activity centre has closed its doors after insurers refused to back it.
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Jump ‘n’ Putt owner Luke Maloney said a spate of serious injuries at trampoline centres around the country had led to massive insurance hikes, forcing him to pull the pin on the East Wagga business late last week.
“Globally there have been heaps of injuries (at trampoline centres) and insurance premiums went through the roof,” Mr Maloney said.
“Now we’re not able to get insured. We need to have $20 million public liability insurance, it’s not an uncommon amount but even the premiums for $2 million or $5 million were a lot more than we already pay.”
The number of trampoline centres in Australia had soared in the past five years, but they brought with them a jump in injured children. A Sydney University study found close to 500 injuries in the same period in just three states – 15 per cent of the children were admitted to hospital, nearly half the injuries were fractures and a third were sprains and strains.
While Jump ‘n’ Putt had relatively few injuries in the three years Mr Maloney had owned the business, he refused to follow some operators who opened their doors without insurance.
“We haven’t given up hope just yet, we’ll hold out for another few weeks – we’ve got to pay the rent and stuff – but if we can’t get insurance we’ll have to auction it off,” he said.
“It’s the worst possible timing for us, coming out of the summer months is when we’re busiest, right through until September.”
Wagga-based MP Wes Fang, who originally established Jump ‘n’ Putt, said he was heartbroken to hear the centre had closed.
“To lose such a great fitness activity out of the community is a tragedy for the people of Wagga,” Mr Fang said.
“It was such an iconic destination for kid’s parties and school holidays, but this highlights that we’re living in a litigious world now, people should probably take more personal responsibility for their actions.”
Jump ‘n’ Putt’s Facebook page was flooded with messages of support after the closure was announced, with many echoing Mr Fang’s views.
While some were worried about deposits paid for upcoming children’s birthday parties, Mr Maloney said they were in the process of being returned.