It wasn’t just the size of this monument to the shire or what a $10 million loan will do to our rates or the sense of déjà vu in the shire selling its existing home before even starting a new one.

My biggest concern is the ominous “greening” out of the skate park and the zone room.

Apparently our skate park and the zone room is now the site for “proposed police station and courtrooms”.

If we take away activities for our young people, places for them to meet, exercise and let off energy, then I have no doubt that we will need a new police station and courtrooms.

May I remind the councillors (some who may have forgotten what it feels like to be young) that as a community it is our responsibility to provide these resources to our people, especially our youth.

The skate park is perfectly located with its high visibility enabling casual supervision and its central location ensures that it is well accessed, not to mention its proximity to the hospital which is a bonus.

The prominent location of our skate park says “this community thinks that young people are important!”

We are talking here about the social and physical health of our community.

The recent report tabled by Australia’s “preventative health taskforce” states that Australia has an obesity crisis that includes children, in fact 6 to 8 per cent of Australian children are obese (Weekend health, Weekend Australian October 10/11).

How can we educate our children about the importance of physical activity and social health if we remove the skatepark and zone room?

As a parent and a health worker I think that we need to reassess our priorities.

I think that the skatepark and Zone Room are more important to this community that a fancy new monument to the shire.

I am sure myself and many other parents like me will look forward to being able to comment on the new proposal.

Editor’s note: The shire says there will be no direct impact on the Skate Park and Youth Zone from the development of the administration building, however the administration building will require use of the land where the unused beach volley ball court is located. “The development of the Police and Courthouse to the east of the Administration Building would require removal and relocation of the Youth Zone and Skate Park. “This is only one of at least two long term options which will be considered by a future Council if and when the Police Station and Courthouse are relocated.”