Spit master mistake: why parents of nippers fear skate park puts young kids at risk

Parents of nippers have raised uproar over plans for a new Gold Coast skate park - they say it puts their kids’ lives at risk.

A PLAN to build a skate park outside the Southport Surf Club as part of the Spit Ocean Park is causing an uproar among parents of nippers raising child safety concerns.

Opposition has also surfaced about changing the main roundabout next to the Southport Yacht Club and widening nearby roads.

Parents say it would reduce much needed carparking spaces when they arrive with their kids for early morning training.

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The Spit master plan showing a section around Main Beach — 7.8 is the location of the skate park.

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The Spit master plan calls for a “flexible urban youth space” which includes a viewing amphitheatre providing “an exhilarating facility for skaters and onlookers”.

Greg Clarke, a parent of five, club member and assistant age member in the nippers program, sent a submission to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warning about the safety issues.

“The draft plan to put a flexible urban youth space including a skate park right outside Southport Surf Club’s nipper building shows absolutely no consideration for child protection whatsoever,” Mr Clarke wrote.

Southport SLSC’s Nipper program has more than 400 children, aged from five to 13, who use the area west of the clubhouse where the skate park would be built.

“With the vast majority of nippers in the younger age groups under six to under 10, putting a skate park just outside the nipper building would put a lot of children’s lives at risk, both from the hazards of the skate park itself and much older unsupervised youth,” Mr Clarke said.

A better option for skate park would be at the northern end of Hollindale Park where there was more parking, he added.

Southport Nippers Ruby Barrett (12), Ted Barrett (11), Freya Brown (10) and Brooke Malcolm (10). Picture by Scott Fletcher.

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Replacing the roundabout and widening the road could take away at least 20 parking spaces from MacArthur Parade and Seaworld Drive, Mr Clarke said.

“All the lifesavers, up and coming nippers, and all those who volunteer their time in so many various ways to support the club, all need to be able to readily find a park so they can keep doing what they do best — supporting a club that is committed to saving lives,” he said.

The most obvious location for additional carparking would be down towards the southern

end of Hollindale Park, across the road from the Southport Yacht club car park.

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Mr Clarke clarified that he was not a patrol member or speaking on behalf of the club, rather a parent who was supporting the strong work of volunteers.

Southport was voted best club in 2018, continues to attract increasing numbers of Chinese tourists along with being the first stop off point for Brisbane visitors which tested its resources, Mr Clarke said.

“While the Draft Master Plan provides the Southport Yacht Club with an additional

car park for their boat stacking facility, it fails to provide any additional parking for Southport Surf Life Saving club, and the general public at Main Beach,” he said.

Southport SLSC Nippers for 2018 state championships. Photo: Southport SLSC.

“The Draft Master Plan seems very biased to the Yacht Club, while ignoring the Surf Club.”

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek in State Parliament has accused the Government of ignoring the needs of lifesavers. He supports Mr Clarke’s concerns.

But State Development Minister Cameron Dick told the Bulletin: “With the master plan now finalised, the implementation of the plan will feature ongoing consultation with both SLSQ and the club.

“This will ensure the matters discussed as part of the master planning process can be implemented over time. There has been $35 million allocated through the master planning process for transport and access improvements along The Spit.”

THE SPIT SO FAR

- The State Government in late May, after 18 months of community consultation, delivers The Spit Master Plan;

- Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with Village Roadshow and the Gold Coast City Council announces $145 million investment to create an Ocean Park;

- Almost 140 of the area’s 201 hectares is set aside for park activities, set to rival New York’s Central Park (340 hectares) and London’s Hyde Park (142 hectares);

- Open space will be eight times the size of Brisbane’s South Bank;

- About 4000 square metres is earmarked to restore rainforest and improve cycle paths and walkways through the dunes;

- A regional action plan released with Budget Papers this month listed the $60 million State investment as one of six key benefits for the Coast;

- Budget Papers showing forward spending to 2023 say “the government has committed $60 million of which “$31 million is held centrally”;

- Projects identified in the master plan to be implemented include an underwater diving and snorkelling attraction, improved boating facilities and parking along with new boardwalks;

- Gold Coast City Council is to contribute $35 million — in its budget this month $14.7 million was set aside for the expansion of Sundale Bridge to five lanes and upgrade of the Waterways Drive-Gold Coast Highway intersection;

- The master plan planning process through to August will be finalised as the State identifies and drafts statutory provisions to give effect to it.