The Riverslide Skate Park Project Reference Group will bring together people with diverse knowledge and experience relating to skate parks. The Project Reference Group is an important point of contact between Council officers, regular skate park users, families, the YMCA and other stakeholders to provide advice on the redesign and upgrade of Riverslide Skate Park.

The Reference Group will work with City of Melbourne to provide technical, user and engagement advice and guidance to the project to upgrade the Riverslide Skate Park.

The Skate Reference Group will meet at least four times during the project with additional meetings (including site visits) to be determined as required.

Where possible, meetings will be held in person at Signal on Flinders Walk in Northbank or the Riverslide Skate Park in Alexandra Gardens between 5pm and 6.30pm on a weeknight.

The reference group will be made up of 10 to 12 representatives, who will be required to commit to the group for the duration of the skate park upgrade, expected to be between 12 and 24 months.

We expect many people will be interested to be part of this Project Reference Group. However we need to keep the size to 10 – 12 people which will ensure there is time for each person to be fully involved.

When we are selecting the group members we will aim to have a mix of people who can represent the many different people who come to Riverslide.

In addition to the answers to questions, we will also consider a mix of gender and age. We will also look for a variety of skill levels and preferred wheels (skate, BMX, scooter, rollers).

Through this approach we hope to have a diversity of ideas represented on the Project Reference Group.

Terms of Reference

1. Background

In 2017, the City of Melbourne endorsed the Skate Melbourne Plan 2017-2027 (PDF 3.57MB). It provides a vision for the provision, location, and management of skating in the municipality. The plan includes renewal of the Riverslide Skate Park, recognising that it is a significant place in Melbourne’s skating community.

From December 2019 to March 2020 Council worked with the community to develop a design brief to upgrade of the Riverslide Skate Park in Alexandra Gardens, Melbourne.

2. Purpose of the Project Reference Group

The Riverslide Skate Park Project Reference Group will bring together people with diverse knowledge and experience relating to skate parks. The Project Reference Group will act as an important point of contact between Council Officers, regular skate park users, families, the YMCA and other stakeholders.

The Project Reference Group will work with City of Melbourne to provide technical and user advice to the project to redesign and upgrade the Riverslide skate park.

The role of the Reference Group is advisory and voluntary.

3. Objectives of the Project Reference Group

• Provide independent, honest and constructive feedback to the project.
• Engage with other members of the group through meetings and facilitated workshop activities to contribute to the detailed design of the skate park.
• Provide advice on and participate in community engagement activities for the skate park, and guidance on how best to keep the skate community informed on the project progress.
• Act as project advocates, sharing a two-way flow of information between other skate park users and the Project Reference Group.
• Provide advice to Council on other skate park related matters as requested.

4. Membership

The Project Reference Group will include 10 to 12 representatives with experience of Riverslide Skate Park. Members of the reference group will have knowledge about skating, be interested to explore solutions, and bring a diversity of skills, age and gender.

5. The roles and responsibilities of the Project Reference Group members are to:

• Work collaboratively in a positive way.
• Bring local knowledge and broad skate experience to the project, and
• Provide advice and guidance to the design development.
• Be mindful of and reflect the views and experiences of other users who may not be represented in the Project Reference Group.
• Provide or be prepared to get a volunteer Working with Children’s Check (WWCC) prior to the first meeting if required.
• Create and maintain a Child Safe environment and complete any Child Safe training requested by City of Melbourne.

6. Appointment

Reference group members will be appointed through an Expression of Interest process. The reference group will be in place for the duration of the skate park upgrade, expected to be between 12 and 24 months.

7. Meetings of the Reference Group

The Reference Group will meet a minimum of four times during the project, with provision for additional meetings (including site visits) if required.

Where possible, meetings will be held in person at Signal (Flinders Walk, Northbank) or the Riverslide Skate Park in Alexandra Gardens between 5pm and 6.30pm on a weeknight.