Skate plan ramps up

Opinion seems to be split down the middle as to the proposed skate park location, with the QPRC survey showing the community has two distinct preferences. 

One group says the Recreation Ground is the most “sensible” location; the other advocates for Ryrie Park as having the benefits of “passive surveillance”.

Two petitions – initially included in the consultation report on the QPRC website, but later taken down – illustrated this.

One petition supported skate elements in Ryrie Park; the other, a skate facility in Stage II of the Rec Ground.

Several submissions also suggested the council’s depot behind Wallace Street as a site.

But the consultation took place after councillors moved a motion at November’s council meeting that no skate park be included in plans for Ryrie Park.

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Cr Trudy Taylor said she had tabled the motion in response to community concerns. As the motion was not included on the meeting agenda, many advocating for a skate park were caught unawares.

Skate park lobbyists Braidwood Outsiders were particularly gutted, although – shortly after – a council statement clarified that skate elements could be part of an “intergenerational playspace” in Ryrie Park.

Braidwood Outsiders say they now hope for a clear, fair and informed decision from the council, that listens to the people, takes heed of experts’ advice, and provides a clear rationale, says president Jane Magnus.

Cr Kenrick Winchester called the stand-off frustrating and preventable. The only councillor to vote against November’s motion, he says he supports skate elements in Ryrie Park, but has little hope of success.

“There’s no doubt that what the councillors did … when they moved that motion without notice about excluding Ryrie Park, it’s had a big impact on the whole process, and it didn’t need to,” Cr Winchester said. 

“It would have been far better if we included all options.”