Parents furious as deadly snakes invade popular Sydney playground
At least 20 snakes have been spotted at a popular NSW northern beaches children's playground.
Several mothers in the area have spotted snakes of all species at Warriewood Valley Rocket Park and say they don't want to wait until a child is bitten for something to happen.
Warriewood mother Stacey Mitchell, who has a five-year-old and a nine-month-old, said she feels she can't take her children there because of the fear they might get bitten.
"I panicked when I saw them and then plenty of other mothers started seeing them too," she told Yahoo7.
"You're not a snake expert and you don't know, so you kind of just grab your kids and slowly step back."
Ms Mitchell said at least 20 snakes have been spotted in the area in the past few weeks alone and she had personally seen a few.
The unlikely hidden danger lurking in a Queensland boy's water bottle
Dangerous snake spotted lurking in grass near Melbourne school - but would you see it?
Ms Mitchell said she had lived in the area her whole life and when the land was cleared for development a decade ago, it left little space for wildlife.
"The developers roll in, get their coin and roll out - they don't think about just how much they have cleared and what corridors are left for the wildlife," she said.
"It's also been very dry and I guess the snakes are looking for water and somewhere to just be."
Ms Mitchell said the park was very popular and since the new developments "tens of thousands of families are now in the area".
"There are loads of children - our kindergartens are packed and there is a high volume of children using Rocket Park.
"Children don't know the dangers of snakes. They think 'oh cute' and go to touch it."
Ms Mitchell said she wants the local council to install signs around the area warning of the dangers of snakes and include a number they can call to have the snakes relocated.
Council general manager of environment and infrastructure Ben Taylor said staff had been on site at Rocket Park and were reviewing the maintenance of areas around the park to discourage potential snake movement.
"It is common to see increased levels of snake activity in the warmer and dry months, especially as they move in and around areas of bushland," he said.
“While snakes are a natural part of our environment, we urge residents to exercise caution and stay safe outdoors this summer."
