Skate park deemed old and unsafe

BAD DESIGN, lack of maintenance and basic amenities are some of the complaints of a group of users of the Lismore Skate Park.

LEFT: Amelia Brian, 3, at Lismore Skate Park where she goes regularly to skate with her father. BELOW RIGHT: Jovana Wilmoth, Amelia Brian, 3 and Jemma Wilmoth, 7, with other local users of Lismore skate park. Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

BAD DESIGN, lack of maintenance and basic amenities are some of the complaints of a group of users of the Lismore Skate Park.

The park is near Victoria St, behind the Lismore Visitor Centre.

BMX enthusiast Damon Andrews is part of a group of around 40 adults and children who use the facilities every weekend and he is not impressed.

"The place is so bad it is actually unsafe for skateboarders, so you see only people on bikes here now," he said.

Mr Andrews explained that the site is a mix of tar and concrete, which means that both surfaces expand and contract at different rates under temperature changes, causing cracks to appear.

"Those cracks you can see all over the place make the site unsafe for skateboarding," he said.

The park only features one rubbish bin and no water amenities.

"Why can't we have a good bubbler and a proper rubbish bin like the ones in Goonellabah?

"The place does not need to be re-made, but it could be re-surfaced to make it safe for skateboarding", he said.

Lismore City Council Parks coordinator Martin Soutar said that council's maintenance staff will be assessing the reported cracking of concrete and edges with asphalt.

"The skate park is approximately 20 years of age now, and with all things, the quality of the skate park is reducing each year.

"The design is also somewhat out-dated, but still fits its purpose," Mr Soutar said.

He confirmed that an upgrade of the facility is not in the council's future plans.

"There are many other competing priorities within the Parks and Recreation section, and the availability of excellent skating facilities at Goonellabah and Nimbin still allows a great experience for the area's skaters."

Mr Soutar said "unfortunately, over the years there has been significant vandalism to the facility, with the water bubbler being removed some years ago due to constant water loss due to this."