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6. Communication and Information
Stakeholders Response
They saw the need to provide youth support for attaining their driver’s licence including literacy support with the written test/s, assistance with log book hours and general leaner driver program support. More instructors/examiners and rural driving lessons were also identified as needs.
4.4 Parking, Paths and Roads Youth Response
• There was not enough car parking in particular near grocery stores. This also applied to moped parking and bike racks although this was across the whole of the town area. • Young people wanted to see more bike paths to keep bikes off the road and foot paths in particular locations such as across railroad at end opposite Coolgardie St. • They also wanted more access trails to beach locations (both bike and vehicles) and off road tracks for mountain bikes. • A number of out of town roads and access roads required improvements.
Stakeholders Response
Suggestions included better access to natural environments with aim to also minimise the vehicle vandalism to these places and to improve the safety of youth by providing more cut through walk/ cycle paths to avoid the roads.
5.1 Public Spaces and Places Youth Response
• Young people wanted to see more public spaces in their community in particular with features that appealed to youth including a dog park, mountain bike track at park, shaded hangout areas, outdoor gym equipment for higher level users and interactive and/or large scale puzzles/activities. • They also stated that public spaces that already existed needed to be better maintained including equipment/playgrounds and improved lighting for security reasons. • A number of places were not deemed safe or had security concerns for young people. They suggested that additional or brighter lighting would improve this and specific areas noted included the Skate Park, and Shopping areas as well as some streets. • Young people also identified the need to charge their phones when out and about in the community and providing access to phone chargers was a potential solution, as was a solar powered phone.
Stakeholder Response
To support communication/contact provide outdoor phone docking ‘stations’ at picnic sites and other locations that young people frequent so they can charge their phones when flat. Locked up sporting facilities located out of town could also be improved and made accessible with better lighting.
5.2 Skate Park
The Skate Park was identified as the only ‘youth specific designated hangout’ and the consensus from young people was that it required significant upgrades/improvements.
Youth Response
• Size of the skate park had been an issue causing accidents resulting in injury and bullying behaviour due to sharing limited space. • Many young people wanted to see a new location for the skate park that was a well trafficked public area to improve safety and deter anti-social behaviours (including drugs and alcohol). Some young people stated that they did not feel safe at the Skate Park in its current location.
• Better lighting was a requirement for night usage as well as safety and security reasons. • Young people wanted to be involved with the Skate Park graffiti art which could include design and implementation. Some noted that this would give ownership and provide skill development. • Spectators seating was something they wanted to see at the ‘new Skate Park’ which would have a dual purpose as hang out place and also to watch the Stake Park users (whether it be young people or adults) • Some young people also noted that they wanted a clean and litter free environment which included graffiti vandalism. They suggested to provide a ‘White room’ as an alternative for Graffiti artists to demonstrate/display their works.
Stakeholder Response
A suggestion for the skate park was to build in waterproof speakers that skaters could ride over and feel the beat. Another was to vary the users by creating and/or allocating safe spaces for longboard skating and providing a track for BMX bikes.
5.3 Infrastructure
A number of community and sporting/recreational facilities were identified as requiring upgrades and/ or improvements. The facilities with numerous comments have been provided below.
Youth Response
• There was an identified need to upgrade/ improve basketball courts and facilities. In addition young people wanted access outside of sporting programs. Included was the suggestion to have an accessible (free) half court in a public place. • Shire note: There is a full sized public basketball court on the foreshore near the mini golf centre and skate park has recently been upgraded and is available for free use. • Several young people stated there was a need for better and more public toilets in the community in particular at the beach with the inclusion of showers. • There was numerous comments regarding the interest of an athletic track and associated athletic activities such as hurdles and pole vaulting. It was also noted that these would be available for free public access and not be locked up for limited (program) use only. • The library had a number of good assets however could be to include an outdoor seating area and enclosed study areas
Stakeholder Response
Stakeholders recognised the need for sporting facility improvements including upgrade to the stadium, a half basketball court to be located at Nulsen and providing public access to sporting facilities out of town which were currently locked up.
5.4 Beaches, Foreshore and Nature Reserves
Appreciated and recognised as valued assets, young people acknowledged these were important to maintain and sustain. The beach and water-based activities were identified as extremely popular by almost all the young people consulted with.
Youth Response
• Receiving numerous comments, young people identified a need for better access and designated camping sites at beaches and nature reserves to ensure appropriate usage and respect of these areas. • There was significant interest for an outdoor pool and particularly for a pool located at the ocean.
The beach was a favourable location however was also a safety concern with relation to increased shark attacks so this option was a popular alternative. • The jetty was a popular swimming location however it needed to be more swimmer friendly in particular reference to the boats/other recreational users. There needed to be a way that all users could enjoy and use the jetty with relation to their specific interest without conflict or issues of safety.
