Shellharbour council will move ahead with plans to build “a Taj Mahal of a skate park” at Shellharbour Village, after councillors voted to upgrade the existing facility instead of building one elsewhere.
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The decision prompted a lengthy debate at this week’s meeting, with councillors disagreeing over the location.
Plans for a fourth Shellharbour skate park to service the “city east” areas of Warilla, Shellharbour, Blackbutt and Oak Flats have been in the works for several years.
But, after months of public consultation with young people in the city, staff recommended scrapping a new park in favour of an upgrade at Shellharbour.
They said this would build on an “existing skate culture” and “provide greater recreational facilities without creating an additional asset to maintain”.
At Tuesday’s meeting, councillor Peter Moran said he would not support this recommendation, as the council originally said it would build a new park.
He was also concerned about how accessible the Shellharbour Village park would be.
“I’m quite sure that all the people who use Shellharbour Village skate park would like an upgrade, but it doesn’t really serve people who live in Warilla, Mount Warrigal, Blackbutt and Oak Flats.”
“How can a youngster from Mount Warrigal or Warilla jump on a bus to go to a park down at Shellhabour Village?”
It doesn’t really serve people who live in Warilla, Mount Warrigal, Blackbutt and Oak Flats,
- Cr Peter Moran
He advocated that the children’s second choice – a new skate park at Benson Basin, on the corner of Wattle Road and Lake Entrance Road – should go ahead as it would serve the needs of more people in the community.
“This meets the needs of the community far better than building a Taj Mahal of a skate park down at Shellharbour Village,” he said.
Similarly, Liberal Kellie Marsh said she would support the upgrade, but felt that the kids from the Oak Flats area has been “ripped off”, as they had been led to believe they would get a local park.
However, other councillors agreed with staff that the Shellharbour Village upgrade would be well-located and central to the city’s main tourist attractions.
Mayor Marianne Saliba said skate parks needed to be built in “high profile places where they can be seen, where kids can get help if they get injured”.
Councillors voted 5-2 for the Village site, meaning the council will work with the community to design the park.
According to council papers, the project is unfunded with “potential funding sources” to be investigated.
