Plans revealed for new $10.7m Ice Zoo skating rink at Wolli Creek
After a string of recent ice skating rink closures, there’s finally good news for Sydney ice skaters with plans released for a new multimillion dollar centre. See what’s planned.
Southern Courier
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One of Sydney’s fastest growing suburbs will be transformed into a winter wonderland with plans revealed for a new multimillion dollar ice-skating rink.
The former headquarters of taxi firm Legion Cabs is set to be demolished for a multistorey ice skating rink with a capacity for up to 400 skaters at a time.
The $10.7m development at 137A Pacific Hwy, Wolli Creek includes a cafe, skate hire area, party rooms, seating areas, hockey player boxes and change rooms.
The plan is the first piece of good news for Sydney skate lovers after a string of recent ice rink closures including at Canterbury and Penrith.
The new Wolli Creek rink would be operated by Ice Zoo which has run a nearby ice rink in Mascot for the last seven years. The Mascot facility, however, is proposed to be closed once the Wolli Creek facility opens its doors.
Ice Zoo, in its plans, state the proposed new ice rink would be a community hub for ice skating – as well as a training ground for future skating Olympians.
“The ice rink will be the home of four not-for-profit ice skating clubs, all of whom are members of their state and national sporting organisations,” the plans state.
“The ice rink will also operate learn to skate classes to commence young ones and families on the road to being better skaters and/or becoming part of the ice sports.
“There will also be general public skating sessions for people to try or have fun skating with friends and family.”
The plans have been met with a positive response from many residents including Craig Zimmerman who said there was “high demand for ice time” in Sydney due to the closure of two rinks last year.
“The community of figure skaters, hockey players, speed skaters and synchro skaters often travel for miles and wake up at 4am to get the chance to train as all the rinks are so busy,” resident Rebecca Thornton added.
“Local children also need more physical outlets than ever with youth mental health plummeting.”
But the proposal has also been met with a cool response from some residents with one submission stating: “We have two summers ahead of us of extreme heat and drought and you want to build an ice-skating rink? Completely tone deaf.”
Plans show the Wolli Creek facility also includes new landscaping works, 80 carparks for cars. It would trade from 6am to midnight, seven days a week.
The plans have been lodged with Bayside Council and are currently under assessment.
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