Page 4708 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993
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Madam Speaker, I enthusiastically support this recommendation, as I believe that all these groups could work extremely well together to raise issues of awareness and responsibility around the safe use of skateboards, rollerblades and bicycles, especially in public places. This recommendation, I believe, best outlines the proactive process which is needed to address the issues of concern which have been raised. I am sure, for example, that young people using skateboards and rollerblades do not necessarily appreciate that the mere use of them near frail elderly people can be extremely frightening for those people. I am equally sure that elderly people do not necessarily view skateboards and rollerblades as a legitimate recreational activity or mode of transport for young people. Drawing these groups together to put together a public education campaign on this issue would be a very worthwhile move, I believe.
Recommendation 3 requests the Government to establish skateboarding facilities in Civic and at Phillip similar in standard to the facility provided at Belconnen. There is no question in my mind, Madam Speaker, as to the success of the Belconnen skateboard facility located on the foreshores of Lake Ginninderra adjacent to Lake Ginninderra College. I know that Mrs Grassby, who as Minister was responsible for establishing that facility, is very proud of it. The facility, which I am sure was expensive to construct, is comprehensive and offers both novice and experienced skateboarders and rollerbladers appropriate means for displays of their skills. While the facility was not heavily patronised at the time committee members viewed it, which was on a weekday, it is extremely well patronised on summer evenings and at weekends whenever I drive past. It is also extremely well situated near the Belconnen bus interchange, the takeaway food outlets on the lake foreshore, Lake Ginninderra College and the tenpin bowling alley across the road. In fact, Madam Speaker, it is a small point, but I believe that better access from the Belconnen bus interchange to the skating facility could be achieved quickly and easily by attention to the pathway which links the two.
There is no question that the provision of a skating facility in Civic and at Woden, given that the small site in Phillip has fallen into disuse and disrepair, would be a welcome initiative by the ACT Government, acknowledging the needs of skaters in these regions by providing them with appropriate recreational facilities and thereby reducing skating activity in Garema Place in particular.
Recommendation 4 suggests that the section 56 car park near the Griffin Centre be considered for the establishment of a skateboard facility in Civic. I support this recommendation also. Three sites were identified by the Department of Urban Services as possible appropriate sites in Civic for the establishment of a suitable facility. These sites were the City Hill long stay service car park sites, a number of which are not being fully utilised; the section 56 car park adjacent to the Griffin Centre; and the area that is currently landscaped between the Boulevard and the car park on section 52, which is between Custom Credit House and the Electric Shadows cinemas. The choice of the section 56 car park site near the Griffin Centre over the other two was also the preferred choice of the Youth Affairs Network of the ACT, which pointed out the proximity of the site to the Griffin Centre, the Civic Youth Centre, Garema Place and the Civic bus interchange - all places in Civic that young people in particular go to.
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