Hi everyone,
We could do with a little help
This is probably a familiar story for Council Youth Services and Youth
Workers
However I welcome any thoughts
Council's typically have BMX facilities that they have developed taking
into account all the "Risk Management" issues associated with the
development of such facilities
Often however a number of "UNOFFICIAL" BMX jumps appear on Council or
other non-privately owned land within a municipality.
Most workers would be aware that despite the fact that Councils did not
build or sanction these unofficial Jumps - Councils can still be held
responsible / liable for any injuries etc that might occur at these sites.
This often leaves Councils with little option but to bulldoze these sites.
This however
often causes ill feelings - young people feel that Council is against
them and their chosen recreation
or it results in a greater number of unofficial facilities springing up
in less accessible
secluded and
often more dangerous locations
which in fact can put young people at even greater risk
While Bulldozing these unofficial sites appears to reduce Councils risk it
is seldom a positive move, often resulting in unintended consequences -
including shifting the risk to young people, and causing more problems than
it resolves.
So now the QUESTIONS
Do you have knowledge of a situation where a Council (or for that matter
any organisation or community) has come up with a positive solution to
this issue, one that address not only the obvious risks - but also the
often UNSEEN risks and potential cost to Councils, Community and Young
People ?
Are you aware of ways that unofficial sites have been made "Safe" ?
Or where other positive steps have been taken, which address Councils
concerns without limiting recreation options for Young People ?
I would be very keen to hear from you on this issue
John Perham
Youth Services Coordinator
Moorabool Shire Council
**********************************************************************
The information contained in this e-mail may be confidential, and may also
be the subject of legal professional privilege. If you are not the intended
recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of any part of this e-mail is
unauthorised. If you have received this e-mail in error we apologise for
any inconvenience which you may have been caused and request that you notify
the sender or feedback@moorabool.vic.gov.au
Although we have taken care to ensure the attachment(s) (if any) to this
e-mail is virus free, we cannot and do not warrant it will be free of errors
or viruses. We strongly recommend attachments are scanned with the latest
anti-virus software prior to opening.
Visit us at http://www.moorabool.vic.gov.au
**********************************************************************
|
Councils and unoff
Reply to this message