Skating into the future

THE WEATHER may have been cooler on Thursday, January 19, but that didn’t stop the skate community from heading down to Wonthaggi Skate Park to have their say on the future of Bass Coast’s skate facilities.

The high skate population amongst the community is no surprise with many skateboarders often surfers and snowboarders and roller skaters, skiers.

So far 80 online responses have been received, along with the extra hardcopies from Thursday’s sessions at Wonthaggi, Grayden’s Reserve and Cowes.

Pump tracks are high on the request to date, with Council also encouraging parents to complete the survey on behalf of their children.

In the strategy both Cowes and Wonthaggi are flagged as sub regional skate parks with further proposed local level facilities.

“I think Wonthaggi is overdue for significant upgrades,” Cr Leticia Laing said.

“The community across the shire deserve quality facilities – the more the better.”

Leticia’s children avid skatepark users across multiple apparatus.

“I am looking forwards to seeing more suitable, safer skate parks for the growing skate community,” Taylor stated having been skateboarding for 27 years.

“The facilities are far behind and outdated for the abilities of today’s user. Advancements in the past 10 years have exceeded those of the 50 years prior.

“Thorough community input should be part of the design – this is the space, what should we include (and how)? Should be part of the next steps.

“(They’ve) done an excellent job in Cowes, it turned out fantastic with the artwork (that involved the community).”

And Taylor was not alone with fellow resident Stephen also stating skateboarding (and skate parks) are an opportunity for all levels of experience and ages to come together.

“Advanced facilities need to be included in the design. Everything (to date) has been built for the beginner to intermediate user there is nothing to progress to with the closest (advanced skate park) 1-1.5 hours away,” Stephen explained.

“Those who travel are no longer part of the local community – they have new friends elsewhere or they quit the sport.”

A skateboarder of 35 years, Stephen is an avid board sportsman counting surf, skate and snow.

“I don’t skate locally, I travel to Cranbourne, Noble Park or Brunswick – where the facilities are more advanced.

“My son got to a high level but was disillusioned by the three-hour round trip, and (travel time) limits the trips per week.

“If you build world class, you will get world class – bigger parks, larger age groups and more people – it becomes a community of the same faces.

“We travel to Newcastle to skate for fun every year. It would be good to see (facilities here) sooner than later and built with the future in mind.”

Construction will commence in early May at Kilcunda’s local facility with works provisionally expected to take a matter of months.

Council’s 2018 Skate Park Strategy community consultation closes February 3 – for more information or to provide feedback visit engage.basscoast.vic.gov.au/skate-park-strategy.