Perth Voice Interactive

THE fences are coming down at Leederville’s HQ skate park, making it free and fully accessible.

It currently costs $5 to use the park making it “cost prohibitive for some” says deputy mayor Ros Harley.

The council had been considering building another skate park but decided it made more sense to make better use of HQ, which is run by the YMCA on a peppercorn lease with the council.

The YMCA receives $60,000 a year from the council to run youth services such as all-ages music gigs—$15,000 will be added to that to cover lost revenue. The Y will also get a five-year lease extension and two five-year options.

The Voice called the YMCA for comment but HQ staff said they weren’t allowed to talk. No-one from head office got back to us.

Cr Harley notes there is no skate park in Perth city council’s borders, and in the event of amalgamation the YMCA would welcome lease certainty.

Cr Matt Buckels, a Leederville resident, says with all the upgrades going on around Oxford Street “it’s going to look a million bucks, that end of the street”. “Well, we spent more than that actually… I’m really looking forward to it.”

by DAVID BELL