State MP for Canterbury, Sophie Cotsis, said the closure of the rink in late August due to structural roof damage, had been a massive blow to ice skating in Sydney and the many thousands of skaters who use the facility, and has joined the call for the State Government to fund the works. More than 1,000 supporters converged on the grounds outside Canterbury Olympic Ice Skating Rink on Saturday morning to call for action after the rink shut its doors last month over fears the roof would collapse.
Now pinning their hopes on being approved for a WestInvest grant of $17 million to cover roof repairs, organisers say Saturday’s rally was part of their campaign to let everyone know how much the closure has impacted people from all over the State.
Ice Hockey Club President Austin Matthews said it was heartening to see so many people turn up on the day despite storms forecast.
“It’s a really good sign and I’m feeling very hopeful,” he said.
Olympian and rink director, Danielle O’Brien, said the rally response was more successful than they had hoped, running out of their 300 pre-ordered sausages, with families arriving from across the State’s ice network to show their support.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed we get a positive word about our grant application soon,” she said.
Along with messages of support from Australian Sports Commission CEO Kieren Perkins and Australian Olympic Committee President Ian Chesterman, the rally heard from competitors, parents, coaches, participants and local politicians.
Bek Thornton said the rink was a second home to her two boys while Jacquie Urquhart said it had nurtured her son, William, who has Down Syndrome, for the last 16 years.
In 2021, he won two gold medals at the Inclusive Australian Skating Championships.
“I can’t speak too highly of the rink,” she said.
Trish Tong got a taste of the ice after going to a birthday party at the rink and recently came third in the Junior State Championships.
The 14-year-old now must train at the overcrowded rinks in Macquarie and Erina.
“I’m one of the many that has been affected by our rink’s closure,” she said.
“Please help us save Canterbury.”
Sign the petition at: change.org/p/save-the-canterbury-ice-rink.
Must act as skating on thin ice already: Mayor
STATE MP for Canterbury, Sophie Cotsis, and Mayor Khal Asfour were among the many who voiced their concerns at the rally to save Canterbury Ice Rink.
She told the community rally that it has been particularly devastating for the 1,000 students across 21 schools who use the ice rink for school sports, the inclusive ice skaters, and the many young people who participating in its programs.
Urging the State Government to fund the repairs, she said it needed to understand the impact the closure has had on the community.
“The physical and mental health benefits of Canterbury Olympic Ice Rink to our community cannot be underestimated,” she said.
More than 1,000 people attended the rally, ranging from skaters who travelled from Penrith, the Central Coast and Newcastle and locals who voiced their support for the community venue that their children and grandchildren grew up with.
The unplanned, indefinite closure has displaced thousands of recreational and elite skaters with the cancellation of public sessions, Skate School, birthday parties, school sport, ice hockey games, short track speed skating, Inclusive Skate program and figure skating.
Mayor Asfour said the rally sent a very clear message to the State Government.
“And that was to save Canterbury Ice Rink,” he said.
“The NSW Government is already skating on thin ice, and I hope they listen to the community and support the Ice Rink’s application under the WestInvest funding scheme.”