SOUTH ARM OVAL MASTER PLAN 

We, the undersigned, petition the Mayor and Aldermen of Clarence City Council to:

• maintain the infrastructure status quo of the South Arm Skatepark, by not installing a berm/fence or wall;
• immediately start designing a modified play space and surrounds following the most recent community consultation of the South Arm Oval Master Plan
•   fund the building of the new play space in Council's 21/22 budget.

No Earth Berm:  Ald Von Bertouch, Ald Blomely.

Abstained from voting:  Mayor Chipman

Yes to Earth Berm:  Ald Edmunds, Ald Mulder, Ald Chong, Ald Ewington, Ald Peers, Ald Walker, Ald James and Ald Warren. 

Leave our Skatepark alone!

The Council wants to build an unnecessary, unsafe, ugly, unbudgeted and unfair 3 metre high earth berm and fence around the South Arm Skate Park.

Unnecessary 

•  the skatepark is operating under approved planning permits
• the skatepark has met all noise requirement
• the earth berm and fence was never agreed to in the original Masterplan

Unsafe

• the earth berm and fence removes general passive surveillance*
• it is likely to encourage and facilitate anti-social behaviour
• it raises security issues

Ugly

•  it will be 3 metres high and will include a 2 metre earth berm with a 1 metre fence on top
• it will change the family friendly feeling of the space
• recently planted trees will be removed to make room for the earth berm and fence

Unbudgeted

• the estimated construction cost is $200,000 - 225,000** of Clarence rate payers money
• the design for a playspace is on hold until the earth berm and fence is completed***
• remaining funds of $51,559 set aside for a playspace may be used to pay consultants to design the earth berm and fence****
• the potential total cost to ratepayers in Clarence is $250,000+ *****

Unfair

• there is no central playspace in South Arm (nearest is at the end of Blessington St)
• the playspace will be delayed until after the proposed berm is built – potentially out to 2022
• the oval and BBQ is a gathering place for families with kids of all ages

Want to help? 

Sign this petition and tell the council this is a waste of ratepayers money on an unnecessary, unsafe, ugly, unbudgeted and unfair earth berm and fence, which will change the  open, family-friendly, easy viewing space around the entire recreational area.

*pP306 of the October 12 2020 Council agenda 8. ‘Having walls in an open space area may be contrary to the principles of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design which promotes open passive surveillance.’

**p302 of the October 12 2020 council agenda 'Indicative estimate is this option will cost $200,000 – $225,000 to construct and therefore will require additional Council funding.' 

***Confirmed in a letter from Council to residents sent on November 4 "The design of the play space will not proceed until the detailed design of the earth berm and fence has been completed and its impacts on the play space layout is determined.

****p306 of the October 12 2020 Council agenda '7.1. There is $51,559 remaining within the 2019-2020 Passive Recreation Capital Works Budget for the South Arm Master Plan implementation. Any further development of the master plan in accordance with this report will require Council approval and possible additional funding depending on the scope of the next stage.  7.2. The available funds may be used to design and provide costings for the preferred noise mitigation option.'

 *****the proposed $200,000- 225,000 plus remaining funds of $51,559 in the Passive Recreation Capital Works Budget