On a roll with skate facilities

Get ready to hear a lot more about skateparks over the next 12 months.

Right now, Wollongong City Council has four skatepark projects on the agenda. Each park has different needs and purposes, but all will be welcomed by the city’s enthusiastic and energetic skating community.

“What an exciting time it is for the city’s skateboarders as well as those who use skate facilities for roller skating, roller blading and scooting,’’ Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“We’ve already got five facilities between Helensburgh and Dapto, and over the next few years there will be new spaces come online in Thirroul, Wollongong and Port Kembla. Plus, we’re still working towards delivering a novel mobile suburb-based option.

“Council is making a significant investment in these facilities, which is in line with our Sportsground and Recreational Facilities Strategy 2022-2027 that acknowledged the strong growth and interest in skating activities.’’

As part of the planning processes for the skateparks, Council is welcoming broad-ranging community feedback on the topic. Through Council’s website, people can share their thought on how and when they use skateparks, what we might include at the new facilities, thoughts on how they might be made more accessible and whether people are interested in being part of ongoing conversations about new facilities.

We’ll then look at this feedback and incorporate it into the planning for proposed skateparks for Thirroul and Wollongong. Council has also engaged internationally-renown skate park design firm, Convic, to review potential locations and to host workshops in Thirroul and Wollongong in April to prepare a vision for each skate park.

“We’re really keen to work with our community to make sure the parks we build over the next few years are contemporary in their design and function, offer diverse boarding opportunities, and meet our community’s needs and expectations,’’ Kerry Hunt, Wollongong City Council Director Community Services said.

“We know we’ve a passionate skating community and we’ll leverage existing contacts and networks we have with these groups to ensure we’re hearing their feedback. However, we want our whole community to feel ownership of these spaces and our focus is that they’re inclusive. That’s why we want to hear from women and girls and gender diverse people.

“We also want to make sure we’re considering accessibility as they’re planned and that we’re able to capitalise on this opportunity to ensure we’re also improving the public spaces at the same time.

“This early phase of consultation allows us to understand community expectations and desires as we move forward into the planning stages. These are not overnight projects. They take time to deliver and will be a great asset once they’re finished.’’

Sign up for updates on skatepark engagement opportunities

Cr Bradbery said you only had to look at Holborn Skate Park at Berkeley to see how a well-designed and planned facility can benefit the community.

“What I really like about Holborn is how the park itself is the centre of the community. You’ll get skateboarders the scooter riders there, but then in the park around it you’ve families having picnics and barbecues,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“It is a real community space and those who are there aren’t necessarily to skateboard but to enjoy the broader space and its amenity.

“It’s amazing to think it’ll be celebrating its 10^th birthday next year. It seems only a short time ago we were having a great opening celebration and watching skaters of all ages cheer each other on as they used the facility for the first time.’’

Right now, Council is supporting the Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Investment (PKCCI) in the delivery of a skate space for Port Kembla.

The Chamber received NSW State Government funding, through PKCIF, for the space. The concept behind a local skate space originated during the COVID pandemic when residents built a handmade park in the suburb.

Over the past 12 months, PKCCI has lead engagement with local skaters to formalise and finalise a new local level skate space for the community.

Council is currently seeking feedback from the broader Port Kembla community on what they think of the proposed location for a permanent space in the King George V Oval. The site was identified in the King George V Oval Masterplan and is on the eastern side of the existing Port Kembla DIY skate park in King George V park.

Want to read more about the Port Kembla plans? Community feedback can be shared on Council’s engagement pages.

Ms Hunt said Council has been hearing for some time that the skate community wanted more facilities in the city, and with skateboarding making a return to the Paris Olympics later this year, it was good timing to consider what’s next for Wollongong’s facilities.

“We’ve got a range of skateparks in this city and they all have different purposes and needs,’’ she said.

“What we’ll be talking about over the next few months will be help to fill some gaps and ensure our parks are contemporary. The grassroots facility at Port Kembla, will be a different proposition to Wollongong where we’re looking to build a park that’s worthy of a city centre.

“We want to make sure all these parks work together and complement one another so that our community can enjoy a range of spaces and places that cater to everyone’s individual needs.’’

Cr Bradbery said he knew people will be keen to hear more about new park locations, designs and construction schedules and encouraged them to register their interest though Council’s website to be kept updated.

“This is an ambitious body of work and we know people are going to be involved every step of the way and that’s great – community involvement is key to what we do,’’ he said.

“The best thing people who are interested in the projects can do is to register their interest on Council’s website. Alternatively, they can follow Council’s social media channels for project updates. That way, they’ll be the first to hear when there are opportunities to be involved.’’