CCTV footage may be used to help catch skateboarders riding illegally in Warrnambool’s newly refurbished CBD.
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The city council warning follows concerns raised by a Warrnambool resident who said he was annoyed youths were using the new sandstone walls on Liebig Street to skateboard off.
The resident contacted The Standard fearing the city’s new infrastructure could be damaged by youths who were skating along the top of the wall and landing on the new bluestone footpath with a loud bang.
“They make a hell of a noise,” he said. “They were landing and skidding the skateboard around in a semi-circle to stop.”
He sad he was annoyed that the brand new features of the CBD renewal project could be damaged so soon after they have been unveiled.
“I’d hate to see them damaged after the money that council has spent,” he said. “I may not agree with everything they do but I think they’ve had a good go here. It’s going to be terrific when it’s finished.”
Liebig Street has been undergoing a facelift since January as part of the $15 million CBD renewal project.
The concerned resident also said on another occasion he noticed some youths riding their skateboards down the main street.
“They go click, click, click over the pavers and there was some little old ladies who were quite concerned about these noises coming up from behind them,” he said. “There was a group of them...charging up and down the footpath and as soon as the police car comes around the corner they scoot.”
The council’s city infrastructure director Scott Cavanagh issued a reminder that skateboards were not to be ridden in the CBD
“While the new footpaths along Liebig Street might be very inviting to skateboarders they are designed with pedestrians in mind,” he said.
“Skateboards and high-traffic pedestrian paths are not a good mix which is why skateboards are not permitted to be ridden along city centre streets and paths. Our Local Laws officers will enforce the local laws around skateboards if need be and we can use our CCTV camera footage to assist with this.
“We’ve got a great skate park in the harbour precinct and skateboarders can ride their boards along low-traffic footpaths outside the city centre.”
