Plans for controversial Inner West skate park back on the table

By DANIEL LO SURDO

Plans for a Leichhardt skate park in the Inner West have been put back on the table, with the project on public exhibition until Monday.

It comes after a back-and-forth between councillors in the previous term of council, whereby approval for the Leichhardt skate park was rescinded in December 2020 following the initial adoption of the Leichhardt Park management plan, which included approvals for the plans, one month earlier.

In the motion to rescind, it was requested that council “find a more suitable location for the skate park in Leichhardt Park” and consult with the community about options for a “new location for the skate park”.

Rescinding Leichhardt skate park a ‘betrayal’: Inner West mayor

The motion was carried behind the Greens bloc, Independent John Stamolis and former councillors Victor Macri and Julie Passas.

Inner West Labor councillor Darcy Byrne called the motion a “betrayal of local children and young people”, accusing Greens councillors of having “succumbed to lobbying” from nearby businesses who were against the skate park.

Both Mr Macri and Ms Passas lost their seats following the December local elections, while Labor won a majority on council to return Cr Byrne as Inner West mayor and instate Jessica D’Arienzo as his deputy.

Cr Byrne has said that newly-elected councillors are committed to delivering new facilities for children and young people “after such long, unnecessary delays”.

“This skate park has been promised to local young people for far too long and I can’t wait for us to finally make it happen.”

Plans for the skate park will be on public exhibition until April 4, with submissions able to be made online, by email or by post. Cr Byrne has said that the skating area won’t take any space from local sporting grounds.