By BRIDGET COOK
A TROUBLESOME Cranbourne skate park will be demolished after youths frequenting the area continued to terrorise neighbouring homes.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, councillors resolved to remove the skate park in the Brookland Greens Estate, adjacent to Cherryhills Drive.
The action comes after more than three years of youths using the park vandalising neighbouring properties, allegedly “smoking bongs”, abusing people and disturbing nearby residents at all hours of the night.
In September last year, the council investigated relocating the skate park to another location following ongoing pressure from residents living nearby.
A report came back to the council which said it was not feasible to relocate the park as the demolition itself would cost about $20,000.
The council resolved to instead contact Cranbourne police to discuss trialling an after-dark curfew for three months at the skate park to see if it deterred anti-social behaviour.
Police said a curfew would not be suitable, but agreed to step up patrols in the area.
City of Casey Mayor Geoff Ablett said nothing had worked so far to stop the youths, so the decision to remove the skate park had to be made.
“It was ruining the neighbourhood,” he said.
“I’m all for sports and getting kids engaged in all sorts of activity, but it had gotten to the stage where it was frightening for neighbouring families.
“We have tried for two to three years to solve this problem but can’t find another solution.
“It’s not the drastic measure we wanted to take, but safety is number one and we have to act.”
Cr Ablett said he had visited the park before and spoken to youths during the day.
“I have seen youths smoking bongs at the site,” he said.
“I have spoken to youths there and asked who was doing this.
“They told me they knew who was doing it but wouldn’t tell me who and said that they wouldn’t stop.
“They said it was war.”
Cr Ablett said in the future the council would have to ensure skate parks were in open locations, with lots of passing traffic and away from houses.
Resident Patricia Smith, who is still considering putting her house up for sale due to the issue, said she was thrilled to hear the skate park would be moved.
“The problems were ongoing,” she said.
“There has been ongoing graffiti, rude remarks on neighbours fences, letter boxes kicked in, rocks thrown through windows and noise really late at night,” she said.
“There were cars drifting up the street and ripping up grass.
“There were even reports of a man trying to coax a child from the park recently.
“I’m so pleased it is going to be removed – it was the only option as it never would have stopped otherwise.”
