BREAKING NEWS:
The new Greenhills Beach park will be named in honour of former federal MP Don Dobie.
Sutherland Shire Council approved the move, instigated by Cr Kevin Schreiber, at its meeting Monday night. It is yet to decide on a name for the new skate park.
James Donald Mathieson ‘‘Don’’ Dobie won the seat of Hughes for the Liberal Party in 1966 and held it until 1969 when he became the first MP for the new electorate of Cook.
He was defeated by Labor’s Ray Thorburn in 1972, but was elected in 1975, and retained the seat until he retired in 1996. He died later the same year.
The park, which was developed by Australand and Breen Holdings as part of a deal to have the adjoining land rezoned for housing, is scheduled to be handed over to the council next month.
THE $1 million Greenhills skate park plan has jumped its final obstacle and should be operating before the end of the year.
Sutherland Shire Council approved the development application this month, and work is due to start in May.
Development company Australand said construction was scheduled to take 16 weeks and be completed by September.
The council has nominated November as the opening date.
To be located in the new Greenhills Parklands, on the corner of Captain Cook Drive and Lindum Road, the skate park will be funded by Australand and Breen Holdings.
The companies are donating the land and creating the parklands under a deal they did with the council to have the adjoining former sand mining area rezoned for housing.
The 91-hectare Greenhills Parklands will also include 10 playing fields, picnic areas and several walking paths.
Sutherland Shire mayor Kent Johns said a skate park in the eastern part of the shire had been sought for many years.
‘‘It’s been a long wait, but it will be worth it,’’ he said. Councillor Johns said it would have the capacity to host competitions and other events, and, combined with other facilities, would encourage families to the area.
An anti-graffiti coating would be applied and any markings promptly removed by the council or volunteers.
During construction and any vandalism that occurred once the park was operating would be removed by the council or a community volunteer squad.
Councillor Johns said he believed there could be a good case to build a second skate park closer to Cronulla in the future.
TO CATER FOR ALL LEVELS
The skate park has been designed to have several zones to cater for all ages and skills.
Covering an area of 1400 square metres, it will include one closed bowl, two open bowls, mini ramps, transitions, flat-banks, granite coping and a street plaza course.
The colours — sky-blue, black and white, the same as those used by the Sharks NRL team and other sporting groups in the area — were chosen by community user groups.
Cr Johns said the design had resulted from extensive consultation with skaters and other stakeholders working with a skate design company which had designed and constructed benchmark facilities in Australia and overseas.
Are you happy with the new skate park plans?
