On 30 April 2021 I met with two people from City of Charles Sturt, one from Public Transport Projects Alliance (PTPA) and another from Department of Infrastructure and Transport.

I delivered this pitch: https://www.slideshare.net/orrenprunckun/ovingham-level-crossing-removal-open-space-proposal-30-april-2021-247594635

In that meeting I was told:

1. The proposed City Skatepark found no one wanted a vertical skate halfpipe; 
2. The height of proposed vertical skate halfpipe may be an issue; 
3. Indigenous art would be painted on the courts;
4. Skate noise would be overwhelming for residents; 
5. There was one (1) nearby resident who “would” complain about my alternative proposal; and 
6. 24-hour or night access would be unviable due to noise (similar to at MJ McInerny Reserve). 

In response:

1. The City Skatepark consultation only received 212 respondents in total (https://ehq-production-australia.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/40d152d386eb6620937cf8c0ae9ff3da8e76b246/documents/attachments/000/128/977/original/191219_19079_Adelaide_City_Park_Pre_Design_Consultation_Report_Summary_%28002%29.pdf and suggests their consultation was flawed or inadequate as I provided a list of 553 locals by way of signatures on this public petition who DO want an undercover vertical skate halfpipe;
2. The height of the proposed skate halfpipe is easily fixed through correct engineering (plans and specifications of the bridge ceiling height have not been made public by Department of Infrastructure and transport);
3. Indigenous art can be (and would be encouraged to be) painted on the skate halfpipe;
4. Any reasonable person would conclude that freight trains on the train Gawler train line and trucks passing overhead on the Ovingham Bridge will produce more decibels than small polyurethane wheels on a steel (let alone wood) halfpipe that sits at and below residential fence level. Nonetheless, I am happy to test this claim with a sound meter on-site and do a comparison one with bouncing basketballs too (the same invitation has been extended to City of Charles Sturt, Public Transport Projects Alliance and Department of Infrastructure and Transport);
5. One (1) nearby resident who has NOT complained (as Public Transport Projects Alliance have not consulted with them nor any community member with my proposal like their media release and personal communication with me said they would do); and
6. Nothing in my proposal talked about 24-hour access. But, to respond: there are no lights in the skate facility at MJ McInerny Reserve, but there are however lights at the basketball courts at MJ McInerny Reserve – the night noise caused there is due to the basketball courts not the skate facility (and I want to see evidence that the non-lit skate facility encourages after hours use like City of Charles Sturt claimed).
    

Eventually, after pushing I was told words to the effect that:

1. The final design had been completed and submitted to City of Charles Sturt Council for sign-off (there is currently no public document reflecting this); and 
2. That all three organizations (City of Charles Sturt, Public Transport Projects Alliance and Department of Infrastructure and Transport) did not want to spend more time or effort opening my open space proposal to residents for feedback as it would delay the construction and cost money those three organizations did not want to spend.

So why delay the meeting with me for almost 3 months?

And this is all despite: 

1. Me containing the City Of Charles Sturt on 5 February 2021, two City Of Charles Sturt Councillors on 12 February 2021 and Public Transport Projects Alliance on 18 February 2021 with this alternative proposal;
2. The Department of Infrastructure and Transport in a public document dated December 2020 saying “detailed design of these spaces will continue with input from councils, the community and key stakeholders;
3. The Public Transport Projects Alliance they saying to me via email on 22 February 2021 that we “expect to confirm the final design before mid-year”;
4. On the same day on City of Charles Sturt Councillor told me via email that “there will be a process for the community to voice their desires”;
5. The other Councillor told me via email on 1 March 2021 of “options for council being involved and this could include providing further facilities such a skate half pipe";
6. A strong community demand (553 signatures and 38 comments) for an alternative open space facility;
7. The Public Transport Projects Alliance telling me via telephone on 1 April 2021 that a futsal facility was now being accommodated;
8. Numerous emails back-and-forth about this from Public Transport Projects Alliance;
9. And so on… 
    

Meeting with me after all this on 30 April 2021 and explaining to me for the first time they would now not consider our proposal has all the hallmarks or laziness or indifference or intentional delay so it could not have scrutiny it deserves.

Furthermore, it indicates their communication with me was not transparent from 5 February 2021 when I first contacted them, nor does it align with any of their core values the organizations they represent.

I have now expressed all of this to those I met with as well as:

1. The CEO and acting CEO of City of Charles Sturt;
2. The Mayor of the City of Charles Sturt; and
3. The two elected Councillors of the Ward the bridge will be constructed in.

It’s not good enough!

Yours Faithfully,

Orren Prunckun

5 May 2021