A multi-purpose youth space was proposed at last month’s Melton council meeting, with the idea aimed at enhancing existing outdoor spaces and supporting youth in the municipality.
Raised at the August 25 council meeting by councillor Phillip Zada, the notice of motion called on the council to consider including a youth entertainment space as part of an upcoming master planning project.
Cr Zada said that the youth entertainment space at Sutherlands Park in Western Australia provides an “excellent model” for this type of project.
According to Cr Zada, the Sutherlands Park youth space includes a covered skate plaza, pump track, multipurpose court, urban play areas, lighting for after-hours use, projection facilities – and it was constructed at a cost of $6.7 million.
“The [Melton municipality] is one of the fastest-growing youth communities in Australia. As our population expands, so does the responsibility to provide meaningful, inclusive, and engaging places for young people to gather, connect, and thrive, “ Cr Zada said.
“The proposed youth entertainment space directly addresses this, creating more than a recreational facility that delivers a hub of safety, creativity, and community pride,” he said.
“This is not a token gesture or a short-lived fix – it’s about building lasting infrastructure that generally improves the lives of young people.”
He said successful models, such as the Sutherlands Park youth entertainment space, demonstrate how co-designed and multiuse facilities “activate communities and stand the test of time.”
Councillor John Verdon emphasised the importance of co-designing youth spaces with young people and ensuring that the project is led by youth services.
