Skating community calls on council for help in rehoming

A Brisbane city councillor will help explore options for the roller skating community when the city’s last skating rink closes.

Caitlin Barclay, 7, and Cairah Cox, 11, will lose their local skate centre come September. Picture: Josh Woning

Brisbane city councillor Fiona Hammond says she is happy to meet with the roller skating community calling for help to find a new home when the city loses its last rink.

The Marchant ward councillor said she had been disheartened to learn that Stafford Skate Centre would close in September, when thousands of skaters will be displaced from the last rink within the Brisbane City Council area.

An online petition to “save” the skate centre has gathered more than 3,600 signatures but World Gym Australia in April confirmed it had already signed to take over the building’s lease.

Stafford Roller Sports Club’s Jorge Pinto said rinks outside Brisbane’s local government area didn’t have enough availability to cater for the clubs that called Stafford home.

Meredith Dixon, Caitlin Barclay, 7, Amanda Barclay and Brittany O’Neill outside Stafford Skate Centre. Picture: Josh Woning

Mr Pinto is also a lecturer in economics at the University of Queensland and said the closure came at a huge social cost for the region.

“Kids aged from five to 15 will lose this indoor place that keeps them out of the streets, their big community on skates,” Mr Pinto said.

“That’s a cost that a gym won’t compensate.

“The second social cost resides in commuting and implied congestion costs associated with that fraction of skaters that won’t give up and will commute weekly to different suburbs.”

Rollerblading Brisbane owner James O’Connor said he had increasingly made use of the Brisbane Riverwalk as he had seen a trend towards outdoor skating rollerblading in recent years.

He said if a new rink wasn’t established within the Brisbane area, more need to be done to cater for the growing community.

“The council could provide more undercover areas for people doing exercise, including skating,” he said.

“A lot of people want to skate during the day but it can get very hot outside.”

Marchant ward councillor Fiona Hammond

Angela Hunter has been skating for decades and has watched the decline of skating rinks in southeast Queensland from dozens to only a few.

She said she was passionate about the accessibility of sports out of the sun, particularly because her friend had Stage 4 melanoma.

“It’s critical we find a solution for all,” she said.

A council representative met with the skating community on Thursday evening and Cr Hammond said she was open to hearing them out.

“This is a privately-owned facility that has served the Brisbane community for many years,” she said.

“My family and I have spent many a happy afternoon at the centre and have many happy memories of this centre.

“I’m happy to meet with residents and hopeful that the skating community can come up with a solution so this much-loved past time has a future.”