Plans are set in concrete

By Paul Pickering
SKATERS and BMX riders in the foothills will be grinding their way around a new $500,000 facility in Knoxfield as early as December with construction set to begin on the Knox Regional Skate and BMX Park immediately.
After 17 months of planning and consultation, the project became a reality last Tuesday as Knox City Council appointed contractor Convic Skate Parks to take the process from concept to concrete.
While the green light for construction was greeted with an air of relief in council chambers last Tuesday night, Friberg Ward councillor Debbie Field said the council’s exhaustive consultation process was necessary to appease all members of the community. “This project has been in the pipeline for some time but it was important for us to get it right,” Cr Field, chairwoman of the Knox Skate and BMX Park Reference Group, said.
In a bid to ensure that Knox got the ideal facility, the reference group toured a number of other skate parks in Melbourne and spoke to the relevant councils about the sites.
With more than 3000 letters send out to residents and stakeholders in the project – and around 200 people participating directly in the consultation process – Cr Field was confident that the reference group had dispelled some of the myths about skate park culture.
“There has been a perception that they (the skaters and BMX riders) are the ones that perpetrate unsavoury acts like graffiti and vandalism, but the users actually tend to take ownership of the park and look after it themselves,” she said.
Fellow councillor David Cooper agreed that the stigma attached to skaters was unwarranted, suggesting that he had not witnessed any of the supposed anti-social behaviour often associated with skate parks.
“All I have seen is kids having great fun,” Cr Cooper said.
“I might even have to pull out the old helmet and BMX and get down there.”
Meanwhile, Taylor Ward councillor Tony Kamitsis said he was “stoked” to have construction underway.
The facility has been designed to allow for major competitions and events to be held on site, with provision for a stage area ideal for presentations and musical performances.
“Construction is expected to be completed in the next few months so as long as the weather holds out we anticipate the park will be open in time for the summer school holidays,” Cr Field said.