Page 4706 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993
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The area about which most concern was expressed was Garema Place. It was pointed out to the committee by young people skateboarding in that area that it was once a road and that if it had still been a road they would have been able to skateboard on the side. The majority of them, I understand, do not go very close to the shops. Mr Develin mentioned a lady who was startled by a skateboard; he did not say that she was hit by a skateboard. I have been startled by cars. I have been startled by drivers blowing their horns as I come around a corner - and I do not consider myself ancient. I think that elderly people will be startled by - - -
Mr Connolly: I have been startled by Mr Humphries when he says some silly things sometimes.
MRS GRASSBY: I have been startled by Mr Humphries many a time. Such instances are not an argument for having a Bill of this kind. The committee went out to have a look at the Belconnen skateboard facility. May I say very proudly in this house that I was the Minister who created that, and I am very pleased with it.
The sad part - and I would like the Minister to take note of this because this is very serious - is that the facility that used to be at Woden has now, I understand, been handed over to a football ground. The big well that young people skated down is full of water. We found it very easy to get through the fence to have a look at it. If we found it easy, it would not be hard for a five-year-old or a three-year-old who could not swim to fall into that well and drown. If it is going to be part of a sportsground, then I think it should be filled in or, if it is to be used again for skateboarding, there should be a rail around it so that small children cannot fall in. I found that very dangerous. As we all know - and I have done a survey on it - there are 45,000 people under 35 living in Belconnen, which means that the Belconnen facility is well used. I have been by there - - -
Mr Connolly: Mrs Grassby has knocked on all of their doors, too.
MRS GRASSBY: That is right. I have, and I am going to continue to do so. No matter where I am on the ticket, I will be there knocking on doors. Wearing out shoe leather has nothing to do with where you are on the ticket.
Sometimes when you go by the Belconnen facility you see 60 to 70 people using it, which means that it is in very good use. I very much support the need for one in Civic, as all on the committee did. I would also support one in Tuggeranong. I am sure that Ms Ellis would be the first to agree that there should be one in Tuggeranong. I think that a lot of the people are coming in from Woden and Tuggeranong to skate in the Civic area. That is what is causing a lot of the problems.
Both Ms Szuty and I feel that education is the way to go. I think this applies to everything with young people. I think we are all so quick to condemn young people, and condemn what they do and what they do not do, without educating them. With education and a place for them to skate in Civic and in Tuggeranong - and I would even go so far as to say to the Minister that something should be put in Woden - I think you would find that the problems in Civic would be overcome. You would not find young people skateboarding there. The Minister, as he has said, is looking at providing a facility in Civic. I would also ask him to look at Tuggeranong and to look at Woden. I think that this, with education, is the way to go.
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