Staurt Sinclair at Esperance skate park.
Four years out from a report detailing the need for an expanded skate park, Esperance Shire is yet to find the funding for the recommended half million dollar extensions.
Shire asset management director Mathew Walker told council that since the report into the foreshore Youth Precinct came out, the shire had constructed a $400,000 pump track and a $300,000 toilet block on the grounds.
“For the next priority project we are to look at putting lights on the pump track so it can be used after dark,” he said.
“But for an extension to the skate park you are looking at a half million dollar-plus project. “
He was responding to a question from longstanding Esperance skate park user Stuart Sinclair at public question time last week.
“There’s been a boom in skate park popularity, especially in the younger age brackets,” Mr Sinclair said.
“Which means the skate park is very congested with users and also parents, and even during the winter months it’s been very crowded.
“Hopefully the Shire has plans to move forward with the skate park extension to ease the congestion on the current facility and offer better recreation facilities for all ages and abilities and program levels.”
Mr Walker said the existing skate park had been built with federal funding for local roads and community infrastructure.
“Any extension won’t be cheap and will probably need support outside the Shire,” he said.
“But it’s in the council plans, I’m happy to have a look at it and work out what are the priorities moving forward, and to pursue them.”
Mr Sinclair offered the support of the skate park users’ community if the shire needed any help or advice.
“One thing I would suggest is to make some sort of priority over a sheltered facility as well,” he said.
“The skatepark is unusable during the wet winter months.”
In response to further questions from Council, Shire President Ron Chambers offered to organise a briefing with Shire staff and councillors.
