Rosedale residents are left feeling unheard and misunderstood, after consultations with Wellington Shire Council for a pump track and skatepark upgrade got off to a rocky start.

President of the Rosedale Neighbourhood House pump track and skate park committee, Kara Ross, and member Aley Dawson joined Rosedale Neighbourhood House (RNH) manager Jenni Monaghan in sharing their concerns over the early planning, specifically the location, of the proposed Rosedale pump track.

The RNH pump track and skate park committee have endeavoured to solidify plans to build a pump track, actively consulting with the Rosedale community and organising events to raise money for the project.

Earlier this month, the committee held a trivia night at Rosedale Bowls Club, with local businesses contributing generous prizes, with proceeds going towards the pump track project.

“Our first fundraiser was a huge success, and the community is in great support of us,” Ms Ross said.

“We raised approximately $5000 and had 150 people in attendance.”

Through community consultation, the RNH pump track and skate park committee, and the township collectively, agreed that Eagle Park, formerly known as the Alan Semple Reserve, is the best location to build the proposed track and advised Wellington Shire Council as such.

Wellington Shire Council has since declined Eagle Park as a possible location for the Rosedale pump track, noting Edward Crooke Reserve and Prince Street Reserve as their two preferred locations.

Rosedale Neighbourhood House backs onto Edward Crooke Reserve, and the current skatepark is located at Prince Street Reserve.

“The exercise circuit committee had this idea of getting an exercise circuit up and running out here, so we could extend the [Rosedale Neighbourhood] House’s programs from here to outside, beyond the community garden,” Ms Monaghan said.

“But the positioning of this pump track and a new skate park is apparently going in this park here (Edward Crooke Reserve).”

Ms Ross said that the community highly utilises Edward Crooke Reserve, explicitly opposing the inception of the pump track and new skate park at the reserve.

“We don’t want to put it here when the town already values and uses this space so much,” Ms Ross said.

“Wellington Shire Council attributes Eagle Park’s disconnect from the community, and accessibility issues for young people, among the reasons the location will not be considered for the proposed pump track.

“Getting to Eagle Park would require young people to cross the busy alternate truck route, where there is no formal road crossing,” a spokesperson from Wellington Shire Council said.

“There is no existing facilities, including toilets, shelter and water at Eagle Park, and as such, the site does not suit the co-location of other recreational opportunities for young people.”

While council argues that Eagle Park is disconnected from the community, the RNH pump track and skate park committee disagree.

Edward Crooke Reserve also lacks existing facilities, with only limited shelter available, grounds for which council denied Eagle Park as a possible location for the future pump track.

Council agrees that listening to the needs and working with the Rosedale community is imperative to understand what is wanted.

“Wellington Shire Council wants to hear from young people, not just adults, about their desires for a pump track in Rosedale,” a spokesperson said.

“Wellington Shire Council’s key priority is to engage with the primary users of the pump track.

“Strong consultation and feedback from young people living in Rosedale will ensure the facility is utilised appropriately. Council will work closely with local youth to design a concept that creates interest and activates the space into the future.”

Despite Wellington Shire Council’s reiteration of their dedication to co-creating a future pump track with the town’s community, Rosedale residents still feel somewhat unheard.

“We sort of feel like Rosedale is sort of left off the page,” Ms Ross said.

“The committee and community really want to work with council to achieve good things for Rosedale.”