A community park in Brisbane's north will continue to house a children's cubbyhouse - if the city's elected officials can come to an agreement.
Angry parents this morning expressed their frustration on ABC Radio after Brisbane City Council said it would remove a treehouse in Spencer Park at Newmarket.
The council received a complaint about the location of the structure on April 8.
It is understood the cubbyhouse overlooks a backyard pool and there are concerns children may injure themselves.
The structure will be pulled down this week.
The council today offered to let children who use the treehouse design a replacement, as long as local councillor David Hinchliffe agreed to pay for it.
For his part, the councillor said he would pay half the cost, but only if Lord Mayor Campbell Newman explained to the community why the original cubbyhouse should be removed.
The treehouse is located in rubber trees believed to more than 100 years old.
A council spokesman said there was no intention to cut down the trees.
"I think if the Lord Mayor can design a treehouse, I am more than happy to go in halves with him," Cr Hinchliffe said this afternoon.
"But I want him to come to a public meeting with the kids and explain why it has to be removed."
City business chair David McLachlan said he would not pressure council officers to change their mind on issues of privacy and public safety.
He said Cr Hinchliffe should use his community funding to build a proper cubbyhouse that met safety standards.
"[He] has been in council over 20 years and he has about $400,000 saved up," Cr McLachlan said.
"My offer to him is if he provides the money, we will provide the council officer to help with the project, and council will even let the kids design a proper cubby house that everyone can enjoy."
Council officers inspected the cubbyhouse last week before conducting doornocks of nearby streets and a letter-box drop.
Two residents from nearby Edmondstone Street were unaware of the cubbyhouse dilemma and said they would be concerned only if the trees were cut down.
Graeme King said all the local residents would be upset if the trees were harmed in any way.
