Plans to build wheel park at Newland Park rejected by Burnside Council

TV tennis commentator and coach Roger Rasheed has weighed into a divisive proposal to build a skatepark at the expense of a court, saying it was “not right in my books”.

Burnside Council’s plans for a $1m skatepark have taken a backwards step, following concerns from locals including professional tennis coach Roger Rasheed.

Council staff had recommended the council proceed to a $15,000 concept design phase for skating and BMX facilities at Newland Park, with two locations on the table following a feasibility study.

However, elected members did not support the move at a council meeting last week, as there was a risk of “potentially displacing” three host sporting clubs at the park, across baseball, junior football and tennis.

One of the Newland Park options would have gobbled up an eastern tennis court at Burnside Tennis Club, reducing the total number of courts from four to three.

The second proposed location would have eaten into a portion of the western oval – causing the ground to be “significantly shortened” – used by the Kensington Cardinals Baseball and Kensington Junior Football clubs.

One of the proposed locations for a wheel park at Newland Park would see a remove a tennis court removed. Picture: Burnside Council

Both options were also predicted to exceed acceptable noise levels, ensuring the park would only be used during daylight hours with extensive acoustic barriers needing to be installed.

The debate also drew comments from professional tennis coach Roger Rasheed who said the removal of a tennis court was “not right in my books” and a skate park at Newland was “not a progressive option at all”.

“Too many tennis courts are being removed, it’s wrong,” Mr Rasheed, who is also well-known as a tennis commentator on TV, said on Facebook earlier this month.

It comes after a 134-signature petition opposing the construction of the facilities was lodged with the council, with one option within 20m of residential properties.

The wheel park was proposed to be within 20m of a residential property. Picture: Burnside Council

During a lengthy debate last week, Cr Jennifer Turnbull said the projected noise levels were “definitely over the top” and it would negatively impact residents.

Cr Harvey Jones said there were better locations that would not “stuff up” sporting clubs nearby.

“I’m not convinced that this is the right place,” he said.

There has been a community push for a wheel park in Burnside since at least 2008, a council report shows. Picture: Marie Nirme

Cr Julian Carbone said history behind council’s attempts to build a skate park built was “long, sad and... outright depressing”.

“(It’s) a pretty lousy location,” Cr Carbone said.

“We need to reconsider Kensington Gardens Reserve because that was the best spot for a wheel park.”

Skate the East spokeswoman Richelle Martin said she hoped the project moved to the concept phase soon.

“We wanted to break that barrier (last week)... the kids who keep missing out on this facility deserve it,” Ms Martin said

Elected members will hold a workshop on December 7 to identify the next step forward.