Party in Pirrama Park

A recent community lunch-time concert in Pyrmont was part of a greater effort to improve the area’s relationship with its youth.

Party in the Park at Pirrama Park was held on Saturday, February 18 in Pyrmont. It was a day of music and dancing with a bit of fairy floss on the side, and is part of a broader, sometimes lagging, effort within the Pyrmont community to improve the situation for local youths.

The event was first held last year to improve the image of the neighbourhood’s youth.

Pascale Riley, 16, was this year’s stage manager and master of ceremonies and an important organiser. She said the event is largely about changing perceptions of local youths from bad to good.
“Apparently to the public we’re seen as troublemakers, but I don’t think we’re that bad,” she said. “I mean we’re putting on a barbeque so we can’t be all that bad.”

She said last year’s event helped change local opinions.

A spokesperson for police in the city area said Pyrmont does not suffer from a particularly high incidence of youth problems. He said there will always be a small element causing trouble, regardless of the suburb.

However, he said there is a group of youths from outside Pyrmont who have caused occasional problems.

The convener of the local community group Pyrmont Action, Elizabeth Elenius, agreed saying there have been issues with youths from out of the area.

“Once somebody set fire to the wooden boardwalk, but it’s periodic,” she said. “Our understanding is that it’s not local kids. I wouldn’t say that it’s a huge problem.”

Youth Service Coordinator for the City of Sydney Council, Aliza Denenberg, said previously negative perceptions of youth have been resolved, with notable improvements in the last two years.

She said the Maybanke Youth Centre has organised several programs to help youth in the area. This includes partnerships with local businesses to provide employment support, and sports events between community members and local youths.

President of Pyrmont Community Group, Jean Stuart, said although she has not noticed issues with local youths, this does not mean there should not be further efforts to improve youth services.

Ms Stuart said she has been calling for the development of Banks St since 2006.

“We believe council should focus on turning that area into active recreational opportunities.”

Ms Elenius said she and several community groups have been advocating the renovation of the Maybanke Youth Centre.

She said she has also been pushing for the development of a multi-purpose paved area at Wentworth Park suitable for ball-games, and the redevelopment of the corner of Wattle St and Fig St to provide active recreational facilities.

She said there has been little progress even though she has promoted these ideas for the last six years.

By Dominic Dietrich