Violence, vandalism mar park

Darcy Foster, Jack Mabbott, Jim McDermott (Family Centre), Charlie Fay (Bugalweena Health Unit) and boxing trainer Tony Nobbs at the Tweed Heads Sk8 Park yesterday afternoon.

Crystal Spencer

LES Graue says it is a “shame” what has happened at the Tweed Heads Sk8 Park.

Mr Graue was one of the driving forces behind creation of the park and has watched as violence and vandalism have marred the new facility.

As owner of Tweed Heads skate shop Concrete Lines, Mr Graue has talked to skaters who refuse to go to the park because they are afraid of violence.

“There are issues down there and it is about gangs and why the kids won’t skate,” Mr Graue said.

While Mr Graue says the new CCTV camera has helped with the problem, he claims artwork on the bowl would play an important role in reducing anti-social behaviour.

Mr Graue said Tweed Shire Council was still sitting on $2500 for artwork about eight months after the park was officially opened.

Yesterday, a number of youth groups converged on the park to offer skaters a barbecue. They were led by Tweed Byron Local Area Command Aboriginal liaison officer Beck Couch.

Ms Couch acknowledged there had been problems at the park and said the community was working to fix it.

“Since the community meeting held last November, there has been a lot more community engagement,” she said.

She agreed artwork was needed on the bowl, and said she would like to see the “rules of engagement” as part of the artwork.

A Tweed Shire Council spokeswoman said further artwork funding was being sought so a youth project could be created to paint the bowl.

But because council does not currently have a youth development officer, it would not happen soon.

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