Outlier Skate
In Australia, we are seeing a perfect storm. Record-high participation in skating is meeting an ageing, non-compliant asset base.
The ‘build it and forget it’ era of the 1990s and 2000s has left a legacy of deteriorating skate parks that no longer meet community expectations or safety requirements.
With 80% of Australian skate parks estimated to require significant renewal within the next decade, the window for proactive management is closing.
A Case for change
The Compliance Gap
A significant portion of ‘legacy’ skate parks built before 2021 do not comply with the current AS EN 14974:2021 standard. This standard specifically mandates annual professional inspections to ensure both safety and functional performance.
The Cost of Inaction
- The 1:5:25 Rule: Industry asset management models indicate that every $1 spent on timely maintenance prevents $5 in major repairs and $25 in premature total reconstruction.
- Rising Costs: Public infrastructure construction costs in Australia have risen significantly (5-7% annually in recent years). Deferring a $50k renewal today often results in a $150k+ liability within 3-5 years due to structural concrete degradation and compounding inflation.
The Challenge for Local Government
While participation is at an all-time high, many Australian facilities are nearing the end of their functional life. Without strategic oversight, these assets become liabilities rather than community hubs.
- Participation is Evolving: Over 1 in 8 Australian children now engage in skating or scooting. Parks must cater to multi-disciplinary use (skate, BMX, scooter) and diverse skill levels to remain relevant.
- The Cost of Inaction: Poorly maintained facilities lead to increased public liability risks and higher ‘reactive’ repair costs. Proactive planning and audits typically extend asset life by 5-10 years.
- Bridging the Gap: There is a significant disconnect between ‘legacy’ facilities (pre-2010) and modern safety and design standards. Strategic planning ensures your infrastructure meets current Australian Standards.
our proposition
Current StateAssessment & DesignAudit
Short-term Community Strategy
why us
EXPERIENTIAL CHANGE CAMPAIGNS
We design change that people experience, not just receive.
Our campaigns turn strategy into clear, human moments that help people understand what’s changing, why it matters, and how it shows up in their day-to-day work.
The result is belief, adoption, and behaviours that actually shift.
END-TO-END CHANGE DELIVERY
We don’t stop at design.
We embed with your initiative and deliver change from start to finish, working alongside leaders and teams as the change unfolds.
From early mobilisation through to adoption tracking and reinforcement, we stay accountable for outcomes, not just outputs.
Let’s talk about designing a future for skating within your community
If you’re investing in new technology, new processes, or cultural change, we’d welcome a short conversation.
No pitch. No obligation.
Just a practical discussion about what it would take
for change to truly land.