Locals object to skate park in their backyard

The skate park at Victoria Park was closed last month as construction for the motorway tunnel project got under way. Photo / The Aucklander

Auckland skateboarders are back on the streets while they wait for a controversial new temporary rink to be built on a grassy corner of Victoria Park.

They and their BMX riding counterparts have been promised a temporary facility while the $406 million Victoria Park motorway tunnel is dug through the old rink that the Auckland City Council built in 1999 to coax them off the streets.

Skateboarders have become more visible - some of them mixing with fast-moving traffic - since the old rink was closed last month, and the council is keen to gather them back.

But its choice of temporary quarters, to be available from about June on the southwestern corner of the Victoria Park, has dismayed residents of two big apartment blocks who accuse it of failing to consult them over what they regard as an intrusive development.

"We don't mind skateboarders but when it's in your face, right in front of your house, it's a bit ridiculous," said Beaumont St resident Sally Travis.

Ms Travis was among more than 20 residents who joined representatives of the skateboarders and BMX riders at a meeting last week called by council arts, culture and recreation committee chairman Greg Moyle after they emailed complaints to Auckland City Mayor John Banks.

She said they were particularly aggrieved at not being told of the council's plans until it decided to build the temporary skate park, which they fear will blight their lives for about 18 months.

That is how long the council expects it will take for the tunnel to be dug and a replacement skate park to be built on the original site, with a restoration budget of $600,000 negotiated with the Transport Agency.

Ms Travis acknowledged that only a minority of skateboarders caused trouble, and that their representatives would have preferred a less-controversial site, but she blamed anti-social elements for littering and graffiti in her neighbourhood.

Although not opposed to the replacement facility, which would be in a less prominent position, she said there were times she had avoided walking past the old rink because of "parties, loud music and unsavoury characters".

Graffiti had been painted on her wall, an attempt had been made to break into her apartment, and skateboarders had been caught riding around her building's underground carpark after breaching its security.

She said the skateboarder representatives at the meeting appeared sympathetic to the residents' concerns and "more understanding than the council".

Mr Moyle said the council had investigated other sites, but found none readily available for a temporary rink.

He said the skateboarders were just as entitled to recreational facilities as participants in other sports, and the council had invited the residents to join an advisory committee to address any problems.

The Transport Agency's contractors had promised to extend security patrols of the tunnel site to the temporary rink, Mr Moyle said, and the council would consider providing screen plants "to break up the sight lines if they [the residents] feel a skate park is too unsightly for words".

No fun no games

The Transport Agency is digging a motorway tunnel through Victoria Park for $406 million.

A skate park built by the council for $200,000 in 1999 has been closed to allow the cut-and-cover tunnel to be dug.

The council plans a temporary facility for skateboarders and BMX riders at the southwestern corner of the park until a permanent rink is built within a $600,000 restoration budget from the agency.

Neighbouring residents are upset at not being told about the plans until after the council approved them on February 3.