THE Orange Roller Derby League is pushing for a roller rink to be built at Moulder Park after failing to secure a venue for their sport in Orange.
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The league’s president, Leanne McCulloch, has started hitting the streets with a petition to gather support for the development.
The petition proposes redeveloping Moulder Park’s unused netball courts into a purpose-built all-weather roller rink that would cater for a number of sports, including roller hockey, artistic skating, speed skating and roller derby.
The nearest rollerskating rink is in Penrith.
Ms McCulloch said a roller rink would be a valuable asset to the city and enhance the neighbouring skate park.
“Orange Roller Derby has come to town and we don’t want to go anywhere else,” she said.
“There is nowhere else in the central west to skate.
“Smaller nearby towns and villages would also be able to call it their home.”
Orange City Council corporate and community relations manager, Nick Redmond, said council would have to closely examine the details of the proposal before offering a recommendation.
“To build a new building like this would run into tens of thousands of dollars,” he said.
“It would involve assessing its popularity and have to fit in with other capital priorities that council have.”
The call to build the skating rink comes after Orange Roller Derby has been left without a venue since forming in April.
The league has around 25 members, but it is unable to expand and train new players who have expressed interest without a venue.
Council has been working with the league to find them a suitable site to train and hold derbies.
All examined sites, including the showground pavilion, old PCYC, Orange Function Centre and schools, have proved unsuitable.
Ms McCulloch indicated there was a need for a roller rink in Orange after council’s 2008 Recreational Needs Study showed 31 per cent of Orange children aged 5 to 14 participate in skateboarding, inline skating and rollerskating activities.
The Orange Roller Derby League is the first roller derby league to have formed in the central west.
Bathurst and Young women are now in the process of forming a league.
Roller derby is the fastest growing women’s sport in Australia.
Petitions can be found at local sports stores and Woxon.
erin.somerville@ruralpress.com
