Skate ramp at least two years off

The earliest the youth of Killcare Wagstaffe will get their own skate ramp is July 2006 according to a report by staff at Gosford Council.

The council's manager of recreation services, Mr Peter Hickman, has recommended further work be done with the community before locating a skate ramp in the area.

The skate ramp would be the mobile skateboard ramp that Gosford Council purchased in 2002.

It requires concrete footings to be installed, which may be laid with the construction of the new Killcare Surf Club next year.

According to a council report, the only time the skate ramp would then be installed in the park near the Killcare Beach car park is during the mid-year vacation period because of other demands on the area during the summer.

The report was a response to Cr Macfadyen who asked on April 27 when a mobile skateboard ramp would be installed in the Killcare-Wagstaffe area.

He asked which locations had been considered, given that they had been waiting since October 2001 for council to make a decision on the matter.

The response from the recreation services staff stated that the funding to place the foundations was delayed by a request of the local Progress Association to replace the fence of the tennis courts at Turo Park, which were damaged by a storm.

"The mobile ramp is also used to test the community's acceptance for a permanent skate park in particular locations," the report stated.

The recreation services department has also completed a survey of the Wagstaffe Peninsula area.

There were 345 surveys received back from a letterbox drop of approximately 1000.

Of these replies, 248 people objected to the ramp and 78 were in support.

Typical responses against the development said that the skate park at Kincumber South should adequately cater for users in the area.

"A skateboard ramp is totally unnecessary and would lead to vandalism and unsociable behaviour as evidenced by skateboard ramps elsewhere," another response read.

Responses in favour of the development said that children in the area needed something to keep them off the roads.

"The local kids can't get out of town because of limited public transport, so due to their ignorance and their parents sheer stupidity, they tend to skate the only place they can: on the road, usually at the busiest intersection in Killy," a response stated.

"I think a skate park would be well utilised in Killcare and welcomed by all.

"Well, actually there will probably be someone who will find some reason to whinge about it - probably just another local who can't stand to see people having fun," another stated.

Council Agenda FS.057, May 25