By Victoria Stone-Meadows
Blind Bight residents hope they are one step closer to having an upgraded playground and new skate park after a petition was tabled to Casey councillors on 20 December.
Balla Balla Ward councillor Geoff Ablett tabled the 72 signature long petition at the last council meeting of 2016 and councillors agreed to consider funding for the project in the 2017/18 budget.
Blind Bight resident and head petitioner Bob O’Connell said the council hearing the voice of the people was a great victory for the town.
“It’s great news,” he said.
“Our problem is that we don’t have transport like Berwick or Endeavour Hills where kids can hop on a bus and get to somewhere; we are not in the same boat.”
The call for a new youth entertainment park would see an adventure playground built in Blind Bight with the inclusion of a skate park.
Mr O’Connell said the young people of Tooradin and Warneet have some entertainment but Blind Bight has been forgotten about.
“Tooradin has two good parks and Warneet has one but we are a bit like the lost partner,” he said.
“We would like to see our current playground on Anchorage Drive upgraded to be similar to one with slides and everything like at Tooradin.”
The Casey City Council 2017/18 draft budget is expected to be realised in late May with the budget made final in the middle of the year.
Blind Bight resident Julie O’Connell said a new playground and skate park at Blind Bight should be a top priority for the council.
Ms O’Connell cited the population sizes of neighbouring Tooradin and Warneet as a reason they have been provided with entertainment for young children.
“The 2011 census has the population of Tooradin at 1359 and that gives them multiple playgrounds, footy grounds, tennis courts, netball courts and a skate park,” she said.
“The Warneet population is 466 and they get newly surfaced tennis courts, a footy/soccer ground, BMX and walking track, and a new senior’s playground.
“Blind Bight has a population of 1238 and we get one old crappy playground near a sewage pumping block.
“Our playground and skate park should be a top priority.”
