Greystanes skate park rejected by Cumberland Council

A decision to shelve plans for a skate ramp at Greystanes’ Bathurst Street Park is edging youth closer to death, Julie Overton said.

A skate park eludes Greystanes youth. Picture: Julian Andrews

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A decision to shelve plans for a skate ramp at Greystanes’ Bathurst Street Park is edging youth closer to death, Julie Overton says.

“Our youth are forced to find carparks, footpaths and roads to ride on instead,’’ the Skate Park for Greystanes spokeswoman said.

“Every day the skate park is not built, our riding youth are at risk of serious illness or death.

“Consequences of council’s inaction could lead to a tragedy in our community.”

Julie Overton at the site where she wants the skate ramp to open at Bathurst Street Park.

The long-running issue re-emerged on Cumberland Council’s agenda last week with plans to open a skate facility at Darling Street Park instead of Bathurst Street Park.

Just two years ago, the council approved the park for Bathurst St.

Bathurst Street Park has ‘great resources’.

Mrs Overton said Bathurst St was the preferred location and wanted the park to be built near the tennis courts.

“It has surveillance. There are always people around, there are shops and people walking around there,’’ she said.

Bathurst Street Park has soccer and rugby league fields, as well as netball and tennis courts.

“There’s already toilet facilities there and playground facilities there. It’s got great resources.

“It’s a neighbourhood skate park and it gives kids in the teenage group a place in the community.”

Bathurst St shops are next to the park.

Comparatively, she said Darling St was in a flood zone.

But Greystanes Football Club objects to the skate part at Bathurst St park because it had reached capacity.

Club secretary Eamonn Donohoe said the club had 788 registered players and more than 500 juniors used the park on Saturday mornings, when traders were forced to use security guards to control parking at the shops.

The Riverstone skate park opened late last year.

“No other football park in the area or in public space has the usage that Bathurst Street Park has and what we deliver to the community,’’ Mr Donohoe said.

“We support a skate park but it cannot be at the cost of community and recreation space.

“We just can’t see how it would fit in.”

Mrs Overton said rugby league and soccer were seasonal sports and there was rooms to accommodate the skate park.

The council deferred a decision on the skate park until it explores alternate venues.

Cumberland Mayor Greg Cummings sat out of the debate because he is member of Greystanes Football Club.

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