Skate debate starts over venue

By Rebecca Fraser
CASEY Council is to consider building a regional skate facility in Narre Warren despite some councillors arguing that the money could be better spent.
Cr Lorraine Wreford put the idea forward at last Tuesday’s council meeting and said a large scale skate park would provide Casey’s youth with a great source of entertainment.
The Springfield Ward councillor showed various images of similar facilities in Frankston and the City of Kingston and said Casey definitely needed a major skating venue.
She said the regional facility should also provide for in-line skaters and cyclists and would be a great meeting place for Casey’s young people.
Cr Wreford said the venue would target people aged between 10 and 25 years of age, and moved that it be located at Ray Bastin Reserve on Narre Warren-Cranbourne Road.
The four-hectare park already includes a space-themed regional playground, a street-style skate park and a community event site.
However, many of Cr Wreford’s colleagues said young people living in other parts of Casey would struggle to find transport to the Narre Warren facility.
They argued that instead of pouring funds into one major venue it would be better if the skate parks were dispersed across the municipality.
Deputy mayor Rob Wilson even dubbed the plan “grandiose” and a “pie in the sky” idea.
He said children living in Endeavour Hills, which encompasses his ward, could not even catch a bus to the facility, as there was no public transport linking the two suburbs.
Cr Wilson said young people living in Cranbourne would face a similar situation and would also struggle to find transport to the proposed venue.
“The reality is that we should have skate parks spread right across the municipality not just one big one,” he said.
Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland agreed and surmised that 13 skate venues could be built throughout the city for the same price as one major facility in Narre Warren.
However, following a vote it was moved that council officers prepare a report outlining the level of demand, design options and estimated costs and possible funding opportunities of building a regional skate facility at Ray Bastin Reserve.
A report is due back to council by 6 June and Cr Wreford said she would now start a petition to get a skate park built at the reserve.