Port Kembla Community Skate Space

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Consultation has concluded

Engagement has now concluded for this project. 

If you would like to know the latest update on the Port Kembla Community Skate Space, you can read the project News Feed for the latest

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About this Project

As part of our commitment to maintaining safe recreational facilities for our community, we’re seeking feedback on the preferred location for a permanent skate facility in Port Kembla.

The Port Kembla Community Skate group has finalised their preferred location for a skate facility in Port Kembla’s King George V Oval. The Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PKCCI) has done extensive engagement over the past 12 months. The local community have identified the site east of the existing Basketball Courts as the preferred location for a new skate facility. The scale of this facility is designed to provide a safe place for local residents to skate and enjoy.

The desire for a permanent skate space emerged from the PKDIY skatepark - a community-run initiative to bring a sense of connection and wellness to Port Kembla at the height of the pandemic. You can find the story on how the PKDIY came about here - PKDIY Skatepark.


The opportunity to deliver a 'community skate space' for the community comes after the Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Industry were successful in receiving a $500k grant through the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund.

 
Where is the project up to?

We want to hear the community's thoughts on the proposed location for a permanent skate space in Port Kembla's King George V Oval. Your feedback will assist in enabling further investigations and design works to continue prior to our approval for this project.

Where is the proposed skate space?

The Port Kembla skating community has voiced their preferred site as being the eastern side of the basketball courts in King George V Oval. It is at the crossroads of Military Road, First Avenue and Tobruk Avenue. This site generally aligns with Council’s endorsed King George V Oval Masterplan for King George V Oval, which identified the existing basketball courts as a 'multi-sports area' with the commitment to "investigate opportunities for an integrated skate facility". It is east of where the current PKDIY skatepark is located. The location for a permanent skate space has been heard from PKCCI's engagement with the community since July 2023.

What will the planned skate space look like?

Port Kembla Community Skate Space will be a local level park. In November 2023, the community hosted a workshop with more than 120 attendees who created their ideal skate space. A small group of skaters from the Port Kembla community also took place in a skate space tour to identify their preferred elements and designs. From there, the lead project group and engaged architects created a concept design from what they heard.

Some key elements identified through the consultation and workshops that fit within the allocated budget include:

  • Mini Bowl
  • Plaza/street style elements
  • Incorporate the existing basketball court connected to the site
  • Seating and shade

The community can access the PKDIY Concept Design Portal to see what their draft design is currently looking like. The concept plan is being workshopped and led by the PKCCI. Please note that Council has not endorsed any plans or any designs. The design will be subject to feedback from Council after the engagement on location with the community has finished.

Additional works would see improvements to the basketball courts in line with the master plan, improvements to sightlines and park safety, and removal of all temporary skate equipment currently situated on the courts. As a local level facility, additional infrastructure such as parking or toilets is not required.

How can I share my thoughts on the proposed location?

  • Complete the feedback form to tell us what your thoughts are on the proposed location
  • Attend the in-person community drop-in session on Monday 8 April 2024
  • Email: engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
  • Write to: The Engagement Team, Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821 WOLLONGONG DC NSW 2500
  • Phone 4227 7111

Drop-in information session
At this session, we will have Council staff available to answer questions about this project and location. Surveys will be available to be completed onsite if preferred.

Date: Monday 8 April 2024
Time: Drop in anytime between 4pm-6pm - there's no presentation at this session, so you can drop in throughout the timeslot.
Where: Port Kembla Senior Citizens Centre, corner of Allan Street and Wentworth Lane

Your feedback will assist in enabling further investigations and design works to continue prior to Council providing approval for this project.


The closing date of feedback from the community will be the 15 April 2024. 


Accessibility and language assistance

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.

Submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council’s Privacy Notification before submitting your feedback. 

Engagement has now concluded for this project. 

If you would like to know the latest update on the Port Kembla Community Skate Space, you can read the project News Feed for the latest

-

About this Project

As part of our commitment to maintaining safe recreational facilities for our community, we’re seeking feedback on the preferred location for a permanent skate facility in Port Kembla.

The Port Kembla Community Skate group has finalised their preferred location for a skate facility in Port Kembla’s King George V Oval. The Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PKCCI) has done extensive engagement over the past 12 months. The local community have identified the site east of the existing Basketball Courts as the preferred location for a new skate facility. The scale of this facility is designed to provide a safe place for local residents to skate and enjoy.

The desire for a permanent skate space emerged from the PKDIY skatepark - a community-run initiative to bring a sense of connection and wellness to Port Kembla at the height of the pandemic. You can find the story on how the PKDIY came about here - PKDIY Skatepark.


The opportunity to deliver a 'community skate space' for the community comes after the Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Industry were successful in receiving a $500k grant through the Port Kembla Community Investment Fund.

 
Where is the project up to?

We want to hear the community's thoughts on the proposed location for a permanent skate space in Port Kembla's King George V Oval. Your feedback will assist in enabling further investigations and design works to continue prior to our approval for this project.

Where is the proposed skate space?

The Port Kembla skating community has voiced their preferred site as being the eastern side of the basketball courts in King George V Oval. It is at the crossroads of Military Road, First Avenue and Tobruk Avenue. This site generally aligns with Council’s endorsed King George V Oval Masterplan for King George V Oval, which identified the existing basketball courts as a 'multi-sports area' with the commitment to "investigate opportunities for an integrated skate facility". It is east of where the current PKDIY skatepark is located. The location for a permanent skate space has been heard from PKCCI's engagement with the community since July 2023.

What will the planned skate space look like?

Port Kembla Community Skate Space will be a local level park. In November 2023, the community hosted a workshop with more than 120 attendees who created their ideal skate space. A small group of skaters from the Port Kembla community also took place in a skate space tour to identify their preferred elements and designs. From there, the lead project group and engaged architects created a concept design from what they heard.

Some key elements identified through the consultation and workshops that fit within the allocated budget include:

  • Mini Bowl
  • Plaza/street style elements
  • Incorporate the existing basketball court connected to the site
  • Seating and shade

The community can access the PKDIY Concept Design Portal to see what their draft design is currently looking like. The concept plan is being workshopped and led by the PKCCI. Please note that Council has not endorsed any plans or any designs. The design will be subject to feedback from Council after the engagement on location with the community has finished.

Additional works would see improvements to the basketball courts in line with the master plan, improvements to sightlines and park safety, and removal of all temporary skate equipment currently situated on the courts. As a local level facility, additional infrastructure such as parking or toilets is not required.

How can I share my thoughts on the proposed location?

  • Complete the feedback form to tell us what your thoughts are on the proposed location
  • Attend the in-person community drop-in session on Monday 8 April 2024
  • Email: engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
  • Write to: The Engagement Team, Wollongong City Council, Locked Bag 8821 WOLLONGONG DC NSW 2500
  • Phone 4227 7111

Drop-in information session
At this session, we will have Council staff available to answer questions about this project and location. Surveys will be available to be completed onsite if preferred.

Date: Monday 8 April 2024
Time: Drop in anytime between 4pm-6pm - there's no presentation at this session, so you can drop in throughout the timeslot.
Where: Port Kembla Senior Citizens Centre, corner of Allan Street and Wentworth Lane

Your feedback will assist in enabling further investigations and design works to continue prior to Council providing approval for this project.


The closing date of feedback from the community will be the 15 April 2024. 


Accessibility and language assistance

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service. If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450. You’ll need to provide our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.

Submissions become public documents and may be viewed by other persons on request. Please read Council’s Privacy Notification before submitting your feedback. 

Consultation has concluded

  • Engagement Findings - Proposed location of a permanent skate space in King George V Oval

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    Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent conversation with the Port Kembla community on the proposed location of a permanent skate space in King George V Oval.

    From the 26 March to 15 April, we opened up a conversation with the community around the proposed location for a permanent skate space in Port Kembla’s King George V Oval.

    We communicated the project out to the community in a multitude of ways. This included:

    • We sent 690 letters out to property owners and residents within a 400 metre radius of the proposed location
    • We set information live on the Our Wollongong website
    • We sent emails to local businesses, schools and organisations in and around Port Kembla
    • We shared information on our social media platforms and website on the project
    • We put signage up around the location in Port Kembla with information and a QR code linking to the online project page

    The participation of our engagement was:

    • We received 2 emails regarding the project
    • We had 17 hard copy surveys returned to us
    • We had 18 people attend the in-person Community Drop-in Session on Monday 8 April
    • We had 493 people view the engagement page via Our Wollongong, and 61 people leave their feedback online using the survey


    The Results

    The data was a combination of online surveys via Our Wollongong, returned hard copy surveys and an email received via the Engagement inbox. The total was 80 submissions.


    In Support

    Some key themes of those who were supportive of the preferred location

    • The proposed location already had a strong sense of community and coming together due to the PKDIY skate park which people wanted to see continued.
    • The location is central with water, people, shade and shops nearby.
    • A future skatepark is a positive recreational asset for the area and encourage more people to socialise and stay active.

    Unsure and Not Supportive

    Some of the concerns for people who were unsure and not supportive of the preferred location included

    • The location was not currently resources with essential amenities like a toilet, footpaths or parking.
    • Noise of skaters and people using space
    • Safety of the site
    • Likelihood of increase social disturbances.

    You can read the full Engagement Report if you would like to understand the responses in more detail.


    Next Steps

    Council will consider the findings from the engagement and work with the Port Kembla Chamber of Commerce and Industry group to deliver a skatepark that meets the needs of the community.