MANY Falcon kids are too scared to get in the ocean because of sharks, according to Dawesville Liberal candidate Zak Kirkup, who is mounting a campaign for a big new skate park at Falcon.
He says the Falcon park is “woefully small” and not built for the massive increase in demand.
“It’s not my biggest issue but the kids need to have something to do,’’ he said.
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READ NOWMr Kirkup said many regional centres boasted million-dollar skate parks of international competition standard and one was needed in the Peel.
He said Regional Development Minister Terry Redman was very much on side.
Mr Kirkup thought between $400,000 and 500,000 would be needed but has decided to go for broke at $1.5m.
“People I have doorknocked and families who have contacted me all say the park is always packed but that we are robbing the kids of the chance to compete,’’ he said.
“Places with much smaller populations have better skate parks.
“If the kids don’t want to go back in the water, then we must give them something else to do.”
He said the City of Mandurah was planning four new skate parks across Mandurah including in the city, Lakelands, Falcon and Dawesville.
He said the State Government might re-build the Falcon Park.
Falcon skate park was built in 2004.
A City of Mandurah spokesman said the Mandurah skate park on the eastern foreshore would remain in place during and after the new bridge development.