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Petition Asks For Temporary Skateboarding Facilities In Wonthaggi

The petition will be tabled until next month’s Council meeting when a report will go before Council

By Carol McCormack - 13th August 2002 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire Council received a petition regarding the provision of skateboarding facilities in Wonthaggi at the Council meeting on Wednesday 7 August. The petition will be tabled until next month’s Council meeting when a report will go before Council.

In the meantime, Council will arrange a meeting with members of the Wonthaggi Skate Club, YMCA, the designer of the Wonthaggi Skate facility and Council’s Arts and Leisure Coordinator. The meeting will further investigate the options raised in the petition in regard to providing a temporary skateboarding facility.

"As a parent I am fully aware of the need for a skate park in Wonthaggi," said Cr John Gains, Mayor of Bass Coast Shire Council. "Council has been doing it’s utmost to provide the facility and will continue to do so."

"Council has worked extensively with skate groups, members of the public, young people and their parents for more than a year to make sure funding can be secured and the facility is of high quality," said Cr Gains.

Council matched a $10,000 Sport and Recreation Victoria grant that was used to draw up the Wonthaggi Skate Park Master Plan. Sport and Recreation Victoria criteria for funding the construction of facilities clearly show that a plan must be prepared before funding is sought.

Council consulted with the public, local skate groups and skateboarders in preparing the Plan. Two public meetings and an on-site inspection were held during the development of the Plan.

There was a two-month delay in presenting the Master Plan to Council for adoption to ensure that the Wonthaggi Skaters Club was happy with the Plan and concept designs.

Council adopted the Plan at its meeting on 23 July 2002. In adopting the Plan, Council agreed to commit $50,000 to stage one of the project. The Skaters Club would also contribute $50,000. $100,000 is being sought from Sport and Recreation Victoria.

"Council has not only committed $50,000 to the initial construction costs of the facility," said Cr Gains. "We have also committed money for the on-going maintenance of the facility."

"We are also one of the few municipalities that funds the supervision of skateboard facilities," said Cr Gains.

A submission will be made to Sport and Recreation Victoria’s next funding round, which is early 2003. This means that if the application is successful, work would begin after 1 July 2003.

"Basically, if we want Sport and Recreation Victoria funding we have to abide by their regulations and their timelines," said Cr Gains. "That means a Plan had to be prepared before we could apply for further funding, and that the next stage of major facilities funding isn’t available until next year."

"However, we understand the message of the petition that young people and their parents want facilities now," said Cr Gains. "We have the same goals so we are keen to meet with them to explore the possibility of temporary facilities."

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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