The delivery of a major skate facility within Wollongong City Centre is a long-standing commitment of Council and has been included in successive Infrastructure Delivery Programs over many years and multiple terms of Council.
The decision to construct the regional scale skate facility within MacCabe Park was the result of an extensive site selection process that considered a range of factors, including existing infrastructure, park functionality, and future planning opportunities, including development of the MacCabe Park Masterplan.
The site selection process formed the basis of a recommendation to Council to endorse the eastern MacCabe Park site as the location for the new skatepark. Following Council's endorsement in October 2025, a further public exhibition process showed overwhelming community support for the skatepark and the location.
The expansion and transformation of MacCabe Park into a vibrant, contemporary urban park has been a long-held ambition for Council and we look forward to working with the community through the development of the MacCabe Park Masterplan from next year. Importantly, a Masterplan for the site is not a legal or operational requirement for the design and construction of the city centre skatepark to proceed.
The Masterplanning process will take into account existing infrastructure within the park, including the Wollongong War Memorial and Cenotaph, Wollongong Youth Centre, public art, and the new skatepark. It will also consider opportunities presented by the acquisition of all Keira Street properties adjoining the western edge of the park, and the demolition of Pioneer Hall, allowing consideration of the entire 5.35-hectare park footprint from the outset of the Masterplanning process.
Correspondence published following a Friends of MacCabe Park GIPA request highlights the breadth of internal discussions and considerations over a number of years regarding the preferred location and development of plans for the design and construction of the skatepark.
Seeking a range of internal views from various subject matter experts is a key part of Council's processes to identify and manage long-term risks and support informed decision-making. Some of the internal feedback has already informed initiatives to refine and improve the park, such as new public art and safety initiatives, additional lighting, and activation events.
The internal feedback also contributed to the adopted location for the skatepark on the eastern side rather than northern side of MacCabe Park. The new skate facility is the next step in activating the park and will respond to community and staff feedback obtained over an extensive period of time.
With the tender for the skatepark now closed, we look forward to working with the community through the design phase, as well as the development of the MacCabe Park Masterplan, to continue shaping the long-term future of this much-loved community space.
