Our kids deserve a voice on their future

Our kids deserve a voice on their future
Image: Woollahra Councillor Anthony Marano. Credit: Supplied

OPINION

BY WOOLLAHRA COUNCILLOR ANTHONY MARANO

President of the Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage and Residents’ Society, Andrew Woodhouse, recently claimed victory that a proposed skate facility for Rushcutters Bay had been stopped.

Andrew’s description of the project was inaccurate and prone to exaggeration-mistakes easily made when you are opposed to an idea before hearing the facts.

Therefore, I respectfully correct the following errors in the original article.

The facility would not cost “well over a million dollars” as our proposed design was priced at $700,000. And although a skate facility is in the Master Plan for Centennial Park, the Centennial Park Trust have until 2040 to implement this and are not likely to do so earlier. By then these kids will be adults and their skating days will likely be over.

The park itself is not heritage listed at all, although the sea wall was heritage listed around one year ago. No trees were to be removed to accommodate the facility.

The skate park lighting could be timed to go off by 6pm, to ensure it was only used during daylight hours.

Kings Cross Police had no issue with it whatsoever. In fact, they thought it may help to get kids off the street into a safer place.

If we are really to engage our young people and give them alternatives to sitting in front of a mobile device or computer, we need to provide facilities where they can enjoy recreation, exercise and wait for it…FUN.

The majority of objectors were in their 60’s and 70’s with no children around anymore. The majority of supporters were younger parents with children.

Rushcutters Bay Park is a very beautiful park. It is one of our greatest public assets. But it is also very large and there is plenty of park for everyone.

I chose to stand and vote on behalf of the young people when we voted on a basketball court, ping pong table and skating facilities.

I would do the same again tomorrow, because I believe young people are an important part of our community.

They deserve a voice and the best positive future we can give them.

 

 

You May Also Like

Comments are closed.