Wollongong City Council Faces Protests Over MacCabe Park Skatepark

The Wollongong City Council plans to construct a 1,500-square-metre regional skatepark on the Church Street side of MacCabe Park. The council intends to award construction tenders in October and finalize concept designs by Christmas. To offset the loss of green space, the council plans to demolish the Pioneer Hall building and acquire adjoining properties on Keira Street.

Opponents, including the community group Friends of MacCabe Park, held a rally on August 22 to protest the project. Residents argue the facility will increase urban heat and destroy essential green space for children living in high-rise apartments. While the council asserts the park will occupy less than 3 percent of the total area, opponents claim the project will actually consume 2,500 square metres of grass.

The council reports that 85 percent of more than 600 submissions from a 2025 public exhibition were positive or neutral. In response to demands for a comprehensive vision, the council announced it will develop a master plan for the park over the next year. Officials state the project will not require the removal of any trees and that community consultation will continue during the design phase.