Erskineville: Plans for urban skating facility on Mitchell Rd derailed after resident opposition

Plans for a new urban skating facility in Sydney’s inner west have ground to a halt in response to resident fears the project could attract large groups of youths and leave locals unable to sleep.

Inner city residents have successfully fought off plans for a new skate park in their suburb over fears it will create “constant noise” for homeowners living within earshot of the site.

Young skateboarders in Erskineville will have to find another location to hone their skills after a new skate park proposed on Mitchell Rd was scrapped in response to community opposition.

The skating facility was planned to be built within a new $23.6m park on the undeveloped site, located near newly constructed unit blocks.

Declan Nugent, who wrote to the City of Sydney opposing the plans, raised concerns over the prospect of large numbers of youths congregating at the skating facility.

“There is a large and varied skate park nearby in Sydney park which is flood lit at night and often has large groups of adolescents with sound systems present late into the evening,” he wrote.

The development site in Erskineville.

“This potential for noise pollution in a built up area would detract from the enjoyment of residents and also for other members of the public to enjoy this park.”

Amir Samakar – another resident opposed to the skate park – said the facility could create a “constant noise for the neighbours until very late at night”.

Residents have also criticised plans for a new children’s playground at the site which they claim was “unnecessary for the Erskineville demographic”.

Plans for the new park have sparked a mixed reaction from residents.

Submissions to the council also raised fears the park could attract people from outside the local area to park their cars around the park and generate more traffic within the area.

The Erskineville park is due to be funded by developer Coronation Property as part of an agreement with the City of Sydney to create a “public benefit” from a major urban renewal project in Erskineville which will create hundreds of new homes in the suburb.

Coronation Property confirmed the skate park was “deleted” from its plans in response to the submissions, but stated the new park will have an overall benefit for the community.

The new park is designed to create recreation space for new housing in Erskineville.

Concept designs show the park will also include barbecue areas, toilet facilities, children’s play areas, a main lawn, and new tree planting.

The skate park is not the first battleground planning proposal that has sparked opposition from Erskineville locals.

Last year, residents voiced opposition over plans by the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville to create an outdoor beer garden which critics say would wreck the area’s “village” vibe.

There were similar concerns over a new public toilet in the town centre, with some residents claiming the loo was likely to attract “vagrants”, prompt “anti-social behaviour” and bring with it “heritage impacts”.

A spokesman for Coronation Property said the company “remains committed to delivering high quality public open space” within the development precinct.

“The City of Sydney Council requested that we remove the small skate park from the park design earlier last as council identified that, based on community feedback and existing infrastructure that the new and larger skate park facility in Sydney Park 400m to the south was the more appropriate location and serviced the needs of the area,” he said.