Skateboard bowl study

MAROOCHY Shire Council's Parks and Recreation Director is to investigate the feasibility, including a cost analysis, of constructing a skateboard facility in Palmwoods.

Cr Geoff Littler said that following a number of requests from young people, he had sought funding for a skatebowl in Palmwoods in the 1997/98 budget.

As the request was not approved by the Budget Committee, he last month sought a more detailed report with a view to having council reassess the need. This will include identification of suitable sites and what he expects will be a favourable cost analysis.

"Such a facility would be a welcome asset, not only to provide a much needed recreational activity during school holidays but to address the safety issues associated with skateboarding in driveways and on the roadways," Cr Littler said.

"The terrain in Palmwoods is such that skateboarding on the roadways is dangerous."

Cr Littler's move has won the support of local police chief Sgt Rod Gibson who said he regularly received complaints of late night noise from skateboarders in the streets.

"The kids need something to do but there are the noise and safety aspects of skateboarding to be considered," he said. "The skateboarders are now out, quite often very late at night into the early hours of the morning, making ramps and jumps on the road, in the streets and in driveways.

"It's great fun for the kids but very bad for nearby residents as the noise of rollers on concrete really carries at night."

Sgt Gibson said he was working in conjunction with Cr Littler with a view to solving the problem but any skateboard bowl would have to be very carefully located.

Cr Littler said that once he had received the necessary information, he would be consulting the community, in particular the young people and those whose homes may be affected by noise from the facility.

"It may be necessary to discuss funding options with the community at large in order to fast track construction," he said. "We also have to work very closely with the young stakeholders if it is to be successful. It is desirable that they take ownership responsibility and look after their own facility to avoid problems such as graffiti."

Cr Littler said that the Resident and Ratepayers Association had invited him to attend a public meeting arranged on the topic, but unfortunately his research information would not be available in time.

"However, I will be attending the meeting and will be pleased to discuss the issues with those present," he said.

Cr Littler said he was disappointed that he had not been advised of the plan to call the meeting as he had planned to have the feasibility report completed before putting it to the public.

"I have been working on this for some time and had hoped to call an afternoon meeting so that the young people who will be the stakeholders could attend," he said.

"I believe it is important to have possible sites identified and be in a position to speak about funding at a public meeting. I will not have this information to hand by November 10."