Moyne Shire Council closes Port Fairy skate park over safety fears

Loose concrete and a small increased gap between two ramps have led to concerns the facility is not up to standard.

Moyne Shire Council contractors were due to undertake repairs late last year but now the council says further works are required at the park.

The closure comes during the school holidays and mayor Daniel Meade acknowledged it would be disappointing for some using the facility.

But Cr Meade said the council was putting safety first.

"Council have made the decision to close the facility while a review is undertaken," he said.

"Further major works are still required in order to ensure the safety of skate park users.

"This review will take time as options for both repair and relocation will be assessed."

The skate park is located off Campbell Street and next to Port Fairy Consolidated Primary School.

It has received criticism for its location and its outdated facilities, with some calling for it to be located centrally in the town.

Cr Meade said the council had plans to look at alternative locations in Port Fairy for a new skate park.

The council at its December 2020 meeting allocated $30,000 from its capital works program for 2020-21 to design a new skate park.

It is now seeking interested groups or people to be involved in a project team to assess new locations next week with details expected to be on the council's website.

Council skate parks were closed for weeks during coronavirus restrictions last year.

While the Port Fairy skatepark is closed the council has encouraged residents to visit the Koroit skate park.

Koroit's park opened after a five-year community campaign in 2017 using a mixture of council, state government and community funds.

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