Four new skate parks flagged for Brimbank

Brimbank council is answering the call for more skate parks, with new parks proposed for St Albans, Delahey, Derrimut and Sunshine.

A draft update of the council’s Creating Better Parks policy reveals the council has received “numerous” requests for more parks.

The draft policy proposes new skate parks in Delahey Reserve, Balmoral Reserve in Derrimut, Sunvale Community Park, and a “flagship” facility at Errington Reserve, St Albans.

A council spokeswoman was unable to say how much would be spent on each new skate park and what the cost would be to renovate existing parks.

She said all projects were subject to the final adoption of the budget following community consultation.

“Sites for the skate facilities upgrade program are now being investigated and will be confirmed at the commencement of the new financial year,” she said.

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The draft update policy recommends that the skate park at Errington Reserve be established as part of the Errington Precinct Master Plan.

It reads: “A facility is needed that is centrally located so users can access [it] by public transport or the cycling and walking network.”

The four proposed skate parks would add to existing facilities in the Packard Street Reserve in Keilor Downs, Robert Bruce Reserve in Deer Park and Talintyre Reserve in Sunshine West.

The draft report states the existing Keilor Downs skate park is the oldest and is in need of an upgrade, while the other two existing facilities were built in 2003 and require “some renewal works”.

Brimbank has allocated $50,000 in its draft 2016-17 budget for improvements to existing skate facilities and for new parks.

The Creating Better Parks Open Space and Playground policy was adopted by the council in 2008 with the aim of upgrading 239 parks.

So far $20 million has been spent on the plan, with 88 parks upgraded.