Gold medal treatment for skate park

Logan from Logan won Olympic gold in the inaugural BMX freestyle competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after building a skate park in his own backyard.

Moreton Bay Regional Council is riding that Olympic high by upgrading key public facilities and is calling on residents to have their say on a $600,000 overhaul of the North Lakes Skate Park.

It is part of Council’s Skate Park Renewal Program.

Councillor Jodie Shipway (Div 4) says she wants input from everyone on the final design concepts that were out for consultation from August 9-23.

“I want this awesome project built with locals in mind, especially local kids, so please get them online to tell us if we’ve hit the mark or not,” Cr Shipway says.

“There’s a skate park layout that you can insert your comments directly into for Council to consider.

“It’s a long way to 2032 but if we can help young kids find a passion now for skateboarding, scootering or BMX riding than who knows, maybe someone named Griffin from Griffin will be bringing home gold when the Games are held right here in Brisbane?”

Mayor Peter Flannery promises locals they’ll see major upgrades to parks and playgrounds across the region in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the centrepiece  of which will be our very own Olympic Park in Petrie with a 7000-seat indoor stadium.

“We are one of a few councils in Queensland lucky enough to be getting new infrastructure built from scratch and we’re the only one with a major greenfield site available for those works,” he says.

“So, I reckon we’ll have construction underway here sooner than anyone else, which is important to me because I’d like locals to be enjoying the benefits of our Olympic and Paralympic investment well before 2032.

“We’ve already begun works on a new national standard BMX competition track at Nolan Park in Brendale too, which will give Moreton Bay locals another reason to start riding in time for the games with Aussie athletes like Saya Sakakibara competing strongly at Tokyo.

“It’s near the South Pine Sports Complex where we’re investing $11.6 million this year into a new $18 million Brisbane Roar Women’s elite Football facility Football Women and Youth Centre of Excellence that I hope to see used at the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

“This awesome facility will be perfectly placed as base for international squads and inspire the next wave of Matildas to take up the sport.

“And the new multi-court Indoor Centre at Brendale is already being put to use by our young aspiring Boomers and Opals stars at basketball state championships and more, with its ability to host 2,000 fans in show court mode.”

Have your say

North Lakes is the Council’s fourth skate park renewal project, building on the success of the combined consultation program for Morayfield, Albany Creek and Deception Bay which received 3000 visits.

Works will begin on Morayfield ($1.5 million) and Albany Creek ($1.2 million) skate parks this financial year.

Les Hughes Sports Complex, Bray Park will be the next skate park to go out to community consultation.

To be part of the public consultation, visit yoursay.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/north-lakes-skate-park