Skate Strategy

The City of Casey, a rapidly growing municipality on the south-eastern outskirts of the Melbourne metropolitan area, was the first in Victoria to develop a Skate Strategy. This far-sighted approach allowed young people to take part in a popular, growing, physically demanding and increasingly commercially oriented sport. The review of the 1999 Skate Strategy was initiated by the City of Casey to re-examine its key issues, particularly risk management and maintenance, as well as developing a hierarchy of facilities, and determining any need for additional facilities. The work also involved analysing demographic data and trends, undertaking site inspections, and various consultation methods. A survey of 500 young people helped to inform the work, as did interviews with stakeholders, and public meetings at Endeavour Hills, Narre Warren, and The Shed (an indoor skate facility in Cranbourne). A main outcome is a plan for the future range of location of facilities and a cost plan to assist Council to budget for the provision, development and management of skate and BMX facilities in the City of Casey.