Boomers furious about rich council’s plans to build a skate park erect signs warning about ‘undesirable nighttime activity’ and ‘increased graffiti’
- Locals in rich Perth council Cottesloe oppose the ‘lower socio-economic facility’
- Signs warn of ‘excessive noise, drug dealing, gang activity, alcohol and music’
- Also graffiti, burglaries, child injuries, ‘non-resident visitors’, higher council fees
- One older resident claimed only kids 10-14 skated – ‘I’ve seen five in six years’
Older residents in one of Australia’s richest councils demand a new skate park be scrapped because it will create ‘undesirable nighttime activity’.
Cottesloe council in Perth’s old-money ‘golden triangle’ western suburbs is debating whether to add the $740,000 roller rink to a spruced-up Grant Marine Park.
But overnight, a series of cardboard signs appeared staked into the park’s grass claiming the development would be a disaster.
‘Proposed skate park Grant Marine Park… increased undesirable nighttime activity due to floodlights being installed,’ one read.
Older residents in one of Australia’s richest councils demand a new skate park be scrapped because it will create ‘undesirable nighttime activity’
Overnight, a series of cardboard signs appeared staked into the park’s grass claiming the development would be a disaster
The sign claimed, without evidence, this would cause ‘excessive noise, drug dealing, gang activity, alcohol consumption, and music’.
Other signs predicted increased graffiti, burglaries, child injuries (from skating mishaps), and ‘non-resident visitors’.
Another claimed council rates would increase due to higher insurance premiums and park maintenance costs.
Yet another sign alleged the park would be less safe because there would be more ‘harassment, abuse and anti-social behaviour’.
Three residents even showed up to a local council meeting last week declaring the skate park was a ‘lower socio-economic facility’.
Jon Fogarty, who lives in a nearby street, claimed only children aged 10 to 14 skated and he’d only seen ‘five skateboarders in six years’.
Cottesloe council in Perth’s old-money ‘golden triangle’ western suburbs is debating whether to add the $740,000 roller rink to a spruced-up Grant Marine Park (pictured)
Signs predicted increased graffiti, burglaries, child injuries (from skating mishaps), and ‘non-resident visitors’
Yet another sign alleged the park would be less safe because there would be more ‘harassment, abuse and anti-social behaviour’
‘Last year my accountant told me In paid $24,000 in rates, so hopefully that gets me three minutes here,’ he began, according to local media.
‘Younger ones get pushed off by the older boys, and post-14 they are preparing for their ATAR exams and studying up to two hours a night.’
There are 1,299 children under 14 living in the council area and a casual observer would know many people skate well into their mid-20s.
A report by Enlocus Landscape Architects did concede the proposed location was ‘within 44m of residences and is likely to create significant noise issues’.
Locals have until July 10 to submit their feedback.