Zoe Moffatt
Macedon Ranges council adopted its skate and BMX strategy at a meeting on November 23, which aims to deliver an estimated $6.7 million of skating and BMX construction.
The strategy, which began with a nine year old boy from Gisborne, Tom, and hundreds of his friends, morphed into a two year strategic development to invest in skating and BMX in the Macedon Ranges.
Speaking about the strategy, councillor Dominic Bonanno requested that council write to the lead petitioner of the 2021 Gisborne skatepark petition to thank them for their efforts.
“That petition was the start of something special for all young people in the shire and kicked off investigative and design work related to the current Gisborne skatepark,” he said.
“[Along with] this shirewide strategy which will help inform future decisions.”
Cr Bonanno said that once the location feasibility study is finalised, council will consider including the construction of a new, upgraded Gisborne skate facility on council’s priority project list.
He also said that there will be minor operational improvements for infrastructure supporting Gisborne statepark.
“Although it may not be what Tom and the youth of Gisborne wanted [these points] should help demonstrate that the Gisborne skatepark is not forgotten.
“We will continue to work hard to bring the strategy to life for the whole shire.”
Cr Jennifer Anderson agreed and said it was wonderful council had got this work done however, “it’s not feasible to have a [big] BMX and skatepark… that I know everyone would love“.
“It means that there’ll be something different in each of our towns for all of our young people and our not so young people, young at heart.”
Under the strategy, short term work from 2024-29, includes construction of the Romsey, Kyneton, Riddells Creek and Woodend skateparks, and a site feasibility study for the proposed new location in Gisborne.
In regards to the $6.7 million construction costs, council said it may be funded through various income streams including council funds, grants and potentially other means.
