Netball courts divide community

A sign on the courts states that skateboarding, bicycle riding, rollerblading, and scooter riding is prohibited.

By Dominique Tassell

The new Stanthorpe Netball Courts have been defaced by locals on scooters and skateboards, dividing the community.

Stanthorpe Netball Association posted on Facebook alerting the community to the issue, stating they were worried about the impact of the unauthorised use on the new courts.

“The volunteers of the netball association have worked tirelessly over the past 4 years to try and secure the massive amount of funds that was needed to build these courts.”

“It will be very sad if this facility is being used for other activities that puts jeopardy to the life of our courts.

“The colour of the courts is extremely expensive and we don’t want to see it being damaged.

“We have put up security cameras to try to identify the offenders but would prefer to ask nicely before involving the council or police.

“The council have provided a skate park for scooters and skateboards and we would appreciate if people could use the skate park in preference to our courts.”

Lynne Nathan commented that “the skate park really is very small and not very challenging when kids see what they’ve been doing in the Olympics”.

“Scooters and skateboards in the same place is like board and body surfers in the same space.

“They can’t use the paths along Quart Pot Creek because of pedestrians.

“Not much choice for kids who aspire to go to 2032 games!”

She later stated it would “be nice to have something like Australiana Park in Warwick”.

Janine MacCarthy commented that local kids using facilities other than the skate park was an ongoing problem, and is due to the skate park not receiving funding.

Tamarah Forbes commented that “the skate park is so small and definitely needs an upgrade”.

“Little kids don’t have room to skate when all the bigger kids use the skate park, maybe they’re (using the netball courts) because it’s less busy”.

“Also the skate park is on the other side of town; people living up near Folkstone the hospital (sic) have to ride all the way to the other side of town for the skate park.

“Some little kids are not allowed to do that and riding on the road is dangerous enough and footpaths aren’t wide enough.

“Of course people are going to ride on something so big and flat with lots of room.”

Nathan Lee replied that the skate park is good enough and should be used.

“Other sports facilities in this town have gone to ruin, maybe parents should try and get their kids to diversity (sic) instead of the same park they can get themselves too (sic).”

Tamarah responded that she believes the Stanthorpe skate park is the “most crappiest skate park in all of Queensland”.

The courts have a sign up stating that use of skateboards, bicycles, rollerblades, and scooters are prohibited.

Stanthorpe Police stated they have not been made aware of the problem.

However, they emphasised that because the courts are council property and are not fenced off it would be hard to pursue any legal action for trespass.