Young skaters could be trouble say residents

By Alison Noonan
HAMPTON Park residents are up in arms over a proposal to construct a skate park in River Gum Creek Reserve.
Locals believe the miniramp, to be located on Kilberry Boulevard at the northern boundary of the Melbourne Water reserve, will create noise and draw undesirable people into the area.
Rawiri Smith, whose property backs on to the reserve, said a skate park would create even more problems in the already troublesome reserve and claimed that many residents were also opposed to its construction.
“I like my peace and quiet and a skate park would only create a lot more noise.
“I know what it’s like to have a bunch of kids hanging around and making noise at all hours of the night and I don’t want that for my family.
“I have spoken to a lot of my neighbours and nobody around here wants it,” he said.
Mr Smith said he received a letter of notification from council a few months ago but had not heard anything more about the facility since.
“Nothing’s happened so I don’t know what’s going on,” he said.
A report presented to last week’s Casey Council planning committee meeting revealed that council had received nine objections to the proposal, with the main concern being the detrimental effect the park would have on neighbouring properties.
“The main concern that emerged was to do with perceptions that the skate park would bring undesirable people into the area leading to issues of violence, damage to property, graffiti and increased drug and alcohol in the reserve,” the report said.
However council officers said the park was generally considered safe as it was designed to be a local facility, would have effective surveillance from the road and walking track and would only be used during daylight.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said councillors agreed to defer the issue to the end of September after he requested council write to Melbourne Water asking it to consider relocating the skate park to the original site at the corner of Somerville and Hallam roads.
He said Melbourne Water rejected the initial proposal on safety grounds, claiming that Hallam Road was too dangerous to cross.
“However traffic signals are about to be installed at the intersection so this is no longer a valid reason. The new traffic lights will allow kids to cross the road safely.
“Council was comfortable with the Kilberry Valley site but residents were vocal about the fact that they didn’t want it there so now we are asking Melbourne Water to reconsider the original site, which everyone was happy with,” he said.
Cr Smith said he was confident that Melbourne Water would revert back to the original site and said council would revisit the issue once a response had been received.
“Safety on Hallam Road is no longer a concern so I am hopeful that an agreeable resolution can be reached,” he said.