Response to letter from Michael Dockery, City News, 4th February 2010
Michael Dockery was incensed that I expressed the view that some comments by local residents displayed prejudice and a “not in my backyard” attitude to a City of Sydney proposal to build a skate park underneath the southern freeway onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Firstly it is in my backyard – I live in the Cove Apartments across the freeway from Mr Dockery’s building and I can see the proposed site from my 28th floor balcony. The 160,000 cars that pass under my balcony each day dominate any other sounds from below. I wouldn’t be able to hear the skaters over the din of the cars and buses. I find the noise objection hard to fathom.
Secondly the City of Sydney has an obligation to build low cost / free facilities for young people. We spend tens of millions every year on free facilities for the ‘grown ups’ and the elderly. If we don’t provide some dedicated space for children to skate then they will use the public spaces such as Martin Place and Cook & Phillip Park and I think that is understandable. Sending city based kids to Homebush to skate is indeed a “not in my backyard” sentiment.
Thirdly statements that skateparks will create antisocial behaviour are pure prejudice.
If that was a reason not to provide facilities then we would never build a footy field or allow a bar to be opened in the City. People exhibit poor behaviour in all aspects of life so we as a society create laws and enforcement agencies to deal with that poor behaviour – we don’t ban what are for most enjoyable & healthy activities
I’d ask residents who are genuinely interested in being informed to take a trip out to Waterloo Park one weekday afternoon or Saturday morning and watch the scores of children of all ages developing their skills and having some great fun for free.
Finally the skatepark proposal is not a ‘fait accompli’. There will be community consultation as for any other City of Sydney public domain project.
My picture of a village includes young people and embraces facilities that they enjoy using.
Councillor Chris Harris
