By BRIDGET COOK
A CRANBOURNE family are considering moving homes after the Casey council rejected a push to have a troublesome neighbouring skate park relocated.
The council is instead looking to place a curfew on the Brookland Greens skate park to stop teens that hang out there after dark from disturbing nearby residents.
At a council meeting last month, councillor Geoff Ablett moved a motion for the council to investigate moving the existing skate park to another location following ongoing pressure from residents living nearby.
Youths using the park have thrown rocks at nearby houses, pushed rubbish bins through windows, hurled abuse at residents and disturbed them late at night while using the park as a hang out.
A report into the relocation came back to Tuesday night’s council meeting and the council said it was not feasible to relocate the skate park as the demolition itself would cost about $20,000.
The council resolved to instead contact the Cranbourne Police to discuss trialling an after-dark curfew for three months at the skate park to see if it deterred anti-social behaviour.
Cr Ablett, who put the idea forward, said he was desperate to find a solution to the matter to help put the neighbours at ease.
“After dark there’s no need for youths to be at the skate park,” he said.
“It’s after dark when most of these offences are happening. Youths are using the skate park as a gathering point
“I want to council to look into getting the police to patrol the area after dark and enforce a curfew.
“There’s no harm in trying something and this is about getting in there and trying to come up with a cure.
“I no it’s a harsh measure but with what’s been going on we need to come up with something.”
However resident Patricia Smith said she was angry to hear the park would not be relocated.
“I’m really disappointed the relocation won’t go ahead,” she said.
“The trouble happens at night and I don’t think a curfew will stop it.
“We’ve been considering moving as the behaviour has been going on for six months and now we will be taking that more seriously.”
Ms Smith said she was sick of the behaviour by youths using the park.
“We’ve had rocks thrown at our house, our rubbish bin pushed through our front window, our fence has been punched in and we’ve been abused by some of the users.
“They hit our fence as they came past and set off our dogs. We tell them to move on and this is what happens.
“I’ve got my own children and I won’t let them use it because of the behaviour that goes on there.”
