Skate park plan for Callan Park ‘massive child protection risk’
A skate park could be built at Leichhardt as a fallback plan as the State Government continues to dilly dally over the delivery of one at Callan Park.
Inner West
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A SKATE PARK could be built at Leichhardt as a fallback plan as the State Government continues to dilly dally over the delivery of one at Callan Park.
Wrangling between the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) and Inner West Council over where the facility should be located in the State Government-owned park has dragged on since 2011 and local kids are sick of waiting.
In February the OEH kyboshed the council’s revised proposal to build it next to the NSW Ambulance Centre.
Council staff received “verbal advice” the department wants it built behind the Waterfront sports ground behind a thick row of trees.
Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne said the site’s “lack of visual surveillance” was a “massive child protection risk”. “That’s a recipe for disaster, he said. “You’re essentially encouraging local young people to identify that as a place where they can go and engage do unhealthy and unsafe things.
“To put it down the back of a former mental institution away from public view where there’s already anti-social behaviour and drug use at night is just dangerous and irresponsible.”
The council, which has already set aside $1.28 million for the project, will seek an urgent meeting with Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton to advocate for its construction next to the Ambulance Centre.
Last Tuesday the council backed Cr Byrne’s proposal to undertake preliminary plans for a smaller skate park on council-controlled land between Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre and Leichhardt Oval 2.
“NSW government inertia has made it impossible to get the facility approved … so the question is, do we sit around and wait for the Government to change its mind or do we get on with trying to find another location which they can’t block?”
An OEH spokesman said a landscape structure plan is being developed for Callan Park to cater to a “diverse community with varied needs” including skaters while also ensuring heritage values are conserved.
Experts in landscape and urban design had advised “a skate park next to the ambulance headquarters would significantly constrain future pedestrian access and with considerable vehicle traffic, would present safety issues for children at play.”
Petersham skater Dylan Donnini, 13, said there was a lack of quality skate facilities in the inner west, describing the one at Summer Hill as “unsafe” while Five Dock is an hour walk.
“I’m having to go overseas or to Newcastle to get the training I need,” he said.
“I’d prefer to see a regional skate park at Callan Park but it makes sense to have a back up.”
“I think it would be better to locate it behind the trees than not have one at all.
“It’s a bit frustrating because we’ve waited all this time and they keep changing their plans.”
Dylan, who is featured in the above video, has his sights set on the 2020 Olympics and competes nationally and internationally in all divisions.
He was this year’s under 16 Bondi Bowlarama champion and won the Young Sporting Spirit award in last year’s Junior Sports Star awards for the Inner West Courier.