Skate park decision still delayed

By Paul Dunlop
RESIDENTS who say Pakenham’s skate park is a hotbed for antisocial behaviour have been told it won’t be moved until Cardinia Shire Council finalises its plans for the PB Ronald reserve.
Pakenham’s Faye Casey has pushed for several months to have the skate park moved away from next to the Living and Learning in Cardinia centre.
Mrs Casey was back before the council again recently to ask why the “troubled” facility hadn’t been moved.
“This problem has been ongoing for a number of years,” Mrs Casey said during question time at the council’s 16 October meeting.
“The longer the skate park stays at the present location the greater possibility of the continued damage and vandalism escalating to more serious levels.”
Mrs Casey asked when the council planned to move the skate park, and where. But she was told the answers to her questions had not yet been decided.
Despite committing $70,000 in the 200607 budget to moving the skate park, councillors and shire officials said no firm decisions had been made.
Cardinia’s manager of community wellbeing, Fiona Hodges, said the council was still finalising its master plan for the PB Ronald reserve, an area that includes the skate park.
Central ward councillor Brett Owen said a decision could not be made until the master plan was adopted.
Cr Owen said the main issue holding up a decision was the question of whether to go ahead with rejuvenation of the old Pakenham outdoor pool.
Councillors have previously acknowledged problems around the skate park but not all are convinced that moving the facility will do more than simply move the problems elsewhere.
Keen skaters say they are too busy honing their skills to make trouble. It is also likely to be difficult to find a perfection location for the skate facility, which not only needs space but must also be accessible and visible.