The youth facility at Rushcutters Bay Park is back on the cards
WOOLLAHRA Council catapulted the youth recreation facility at Rushcutters Bay Park back on to the agenda on Monday in a unanimous move that could finally result in somewhere for local kids to go.
Wentworth Courier
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THE new Woollahra Council catapulted the youth recreation facility at Rushcutters Bay Park back onto the agenda on Monday night.
A proposal by Crs Anthony Marano and Matthew Robertson for staff to identify alternative locations in the park for facilities catering to eight to 14-year-olds received unanimous cross-party support.
Children were devastated in May when the previous council axed a plan for a basketball court, ping pong tables and a mini skate-park next to the exercise area.
Cr Marano has proposed moving it to next to the football field and New South Head Rd where the sound of skaters and scooters would be drowned out by traffic.
“It would be near the Vibe Hotel but (further over) from that pristine strip of grass next to the canal,” he said.
“I was there recently with (staff) and was having trouble hearing what they were saying with all the trucks going up and down and thought: ‘This is the perfect spot because it kills the noise argument’.
“We have so many families with children in this area and we have parks for toddlers but nothing for kids aged from six to 15.”
The council will still work towards the potential for providing a facility at Centennial Park.
“But even if they build it in Centennial Park, it’s still a bit far away for kids in our area because as far as I know, they have no intention of building one there in the next few years,” Cr Marano said.
“It’s not a priority for them so we need to be proactive and build our own facility.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had opposed the previous plan because it would result in the loss of passive recreation space.
Cr Robertson, a Greens councillor, said the new proposal ensured the new location would not require the removal of trees or excessive green space.
“You certainly wouldn’t see my name on (this proposal) if that was the case,” he said.
“This is a new term, it’s time for a refresh and all of us who campaigned down at our end of the municipality would know the need to provide space for young people has not gone away.”
Cr Toni Zeltzer, who opposed the previous plan, said the alternative location was “a better outcome than eliminating quiet green space from the park”.
“The reconsideration of its location is more supportable because it’s closer to the road which is not an area where people would have quiet contemplation and do a lot of relaxation.”
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Staff will prepare a report based on the needs analysis and survey data contained in the CONVIC study previously commissioned by council.
They will then and provide options to progress a proposal once a suitable location is selected.
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