Adelaide City Skate Park | Motion
17/06/2015
Adjourned debated on motion of Hon. T.A. Franks:
That this council—
1. Notes that skate parks across the world provide for considerable positive youth development opportunities;
2. Notes that the Adelaide City Skate Park has been an outstanding social and recreational space for South Australia since June 2000, and in this time it has also provided a career launch pad for professional skaters and riders;
3. Expresses concern that, as a result of announcements to build new medical facilities on the site of the Adelaide City Skate Park, the state government has terminated its lease with the Adelaide City Council, effective June 2014, yet did not make a corresponding financial commitment for a replacement central city skate space; and
4. Calls upon the state government to urgently commit to funding a permanent central city skate space in the upcoming budget.
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT : Dignity for Disability certainly welcomes this motion which acknowledges the importance of skate parks across the world as part, in particular, of positive youth development and the importance of the Adelaide City Skate Park on North Terrace, which is just down the road from this very parliament. The failure of this state government to find an alternative location for a skate park thus far within the city is very disturbing. I am pleased to hear from the Hon. Mr Kandelaars that there may be some developments in that space, but I will look forward to seeing them—
The Hon. T.A. Franks interjecting:
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: —and not rubber stamp them. Indeed, as the Hon. Ms Franks has pointed out, it sounds like it should be the Adelaide City Council that we thank for that, not the state government. In any event, we will wait and see what happens.
In the meantime, the skate park—whilst not something that I am personally a regular user of despite significant pressure from arts writer, Jane Howard, on Twitter to crack out my helmet—quite frankly, there is not enough foam in the world to make me feel confident that my fall would be caught, so that has not as yet happened. But despite significant pressure, I am not myself a user of the skate park. However, I do not need to be, to know that it is important. It has been heavily patronised and provides a healthy and free activity for people from all walks of life who have used it for skateboarding and BMX riding for many years.
As a young person myself (although perhaps not so young anymore, as I was reminded just a few moments ago in the contribution by the Hon. Ms Lee that Guy Sebastian’s performance on Australian Idol was in 2003 and I have to say my life flashed before my eyes as it certainly does not seem that long ago) I certainly am mindful of the challenges that my generation and generations after it face in relation to health, wellbeing, exercise, weight management and social activity. At a time when access to screens is more prevalent than ever, we must support activities that keep young people moving, active and outside. I am particularly mindful of that as I read these speech notes off the screen of my tablet.
By not prioritising a new home for the City Skate Park, I feel very disappointed in particular for young South Australians. It is clear this government does not prioritise our health and wellbeing as young people and future leaders. With those brief words we are happy to keep the pressure on this government to work constructively to find an alternative home for the City Skate Park and we welcome the motion. We thank the Hon. Ms Franks for putting it forward and we commend it to the chamber.
