Burnside Council to investigate Kensington Gardens Reserve as new location for wheel park

After decades of debate, yet another location will be considered for Burnside’s first wheel park with one councillor saying “like it or not, is the best we’ve got”.

Burnside Council is officially eyeing off Kensington Gardens Reserve for its first-ever skate park despites concerns it would be “overdeveloped”.

On Tuesday night, elected members voted to proceed with a $5000 feasibility study and concept design after the council abandoned plans for a wheel park at Newland Park in November following concerns it would displace local sporting clubs.

The study will consider the target demographic, budget estimates and relevant timelines for community consultation, detailed design and construction.

After lengthy debate, Mayor Anne Monceaux used her casting vote to break the six-apiece deadlock and proceed with the study.

“It’s not a guarantee it will go into that park,” Ms Monceaux told the chamber.

Local children Harry, 12, Imogen, 12, Ryan, 11, and Mylo, 10 at Newland Park where the council recently considered a wheel park. Picture: Matt Loxton

“We need to know what it’s likely to cost.

“It starts a conversation with the community.”

However, councillor Jane Davey was concerned Kensington Gardens Reserve was at risk of being “overdeveloped” with major upgrades already underway.

“It’s absolutely oversubscribed, it’s in the process of being developed with fabulous wetlands,” Cr Davey said.

“I don’t think it could take one more piece of construction in the reserve.”

Earlier, councillor Julian Carbone said the plan was a “long time coming and we are nearly there”.

“We’ve done our homework, we’ve done our surveys, we’ve done our workshops, we’ve done our reports and it is unquestionable that the children want a wheel park in Burnside,” Cr Carbone said.

Burnside councillor Julian Carbone said there had been demand for a local skate park for many years. Picture: Matt Loxton.

“Kensington Gardens Reserve, whether you like it or not, is the best we’ve got.”

Cr Carbone said the council owed it to the children of Burnside “to put this matter to bed and give it a try”.

“Let’s come up with a design, let’s come up with a budget and let’s finetune our target market,” he said.

“Let’s do it for the children, I’m going to do it for the child I used to be, and I’d like you to do it for the child you used to be.”

He also said a feasibility study would answer a lot of “lingering unknowns” and the council had come “further than any other council of the past 20 years”.

Councillor Paul Huebl said the council owed it to residents to analyse the benefits of Kensington Gardens Reserve: “Let’s get the microscope out, I don’t think there is a better way”.

The council will continue to run its popular “pump track” trial, with temporary skating and bike riding facilities, in 2022. Picture: AAP/Roy VanDerVegt

Councillors Peter Cornish, Jenny Turnbull and Mike Daws agreed that a feasibility study would provide strong grounds of comparison with other possible sites.

Councillor Sarah Hughes knew the proposal would cause “division in the community” but that was likely with any proposed location.

Spokeswoman for lobby group Skate the East, Richelle Martin, said it was a “huge milestone” for the area and a step in the right direction.

Meanwhile, the council also committed to four new locations for an extension of its popular pump track trial next year at the Burnside Civic Centre, Penfold Park, Langman Recreation Reserve and Bell Yett Reserve.