Unsafe skate ramp facing axe

Onerahi skate ramp to go.

The large wooden skate ramp at Onerahi will be torn down tomorrow after a health and safety audit found it was not safe to use.

Whangarei District Council parks technical officer Spencer Jellyman said the large and small wooden skate ramps at Onerahi - beside the New World Supermarket - were among the council's oldest parks assets and it was hoped that funding would be available to replace them both.

However, he said, a recent health and safety audit found that the large ramp had to be demolished as it was a health and safety risk, while the small ramp needed urgent repairs.

"Cr Brian McLachlan and the Onerahi Community Association has offered to help remove the large ramp on Sunday with help from Community Detention participants," Mr Jellyman said.

The volunteer work meant the council could then use money saved to make repairs to the smaller ramp so it can be used safely.

It's hoped the council can put aside funding in the 2014/15 annual plan to replace both ramps, but in the meantime the small ramp can continue to be used once it is repaired, he said.

Cr McLachlan said the community association wanted to make the skate park safer by pitching in to help remove the large ramp.