Debate out in open
Mixed views on draft plan for BMX park
A LOCAL BMX and skating industry insider has voiced concerns over the city council’s newly proposed adventure park, stating it might not hit the mark and risks becoming a “white elephant” in the region’s north.
His concerns were raised after the council announced a multimillion-dollar adventure park along Kerkin Rd South at Coomera yesterday.
But the park proposal also had its backers, with a Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce spokesman describing it as “a positive for our area’’ and councillors including Acting Mayor Donna Gates declaring the planned adventure park a “wonderful asset” for the Coomera/Pimpama area.
Draft proposals show the park would include a BMX path and pump track, skate park, picnic and barbecue area, and a playground for older kids. However Gold Coast Compound owner Tom Herzog said his concern was about getting bang for buck.
“Either way, it’s money being spent, so why not get it right?” he said. “There are a lot of riders (in the northern Gold Coast) looking for a space catered specifically to them.
“We need something for beginners, intermediates, advanced riders, of BMX, scooters and skateboards. Somewhere safe, monitored. All these elements need to be taken into account with the design or they’ll just slip away.”
Two drafts were on the table, with the key difference being inclusion of a BMX/ pump track.
“Pump tracks are good, depending on how it is constructed,” Mr Herzog said.
“This could end up being rubbish like the upgrade to Coomera Skate Park. If they’re going to create a park, for the amount of money they spend, why don’t they create an indoor centre where they could hold local, national and even international events?’'
Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce secretary Gary Mays said the council had been “pretty proactive” in ensuring parks at the northern end were developed, given the population boom.
“The best thing you can do is give kids more outside areas to play,” he said.
“In the overall scheme of things, it doesn’t matter what time of day you drive past some of these places, they’re always being used. Good parks will always be used.
“So I can only see this as a positive for our area.”