City to spend $3.2 million on building skateparks ahead of Olympic Games
The Gold Coast will boast two new super skateparks, in the north and south of the city, with the City to spend $3.2 million on planning for the venues. Here’s where they will be built.
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The Gold Coast will boast two new super skateparks, in the north and south of the city, with the City to spend $3.2 million on planning for the venues to meet a teenage population boom.
A consultant’s report presented to councillors at Tuesday’s transport committee meeting also recommended council explore building a world class skatepark in the lead up to the 2032 Olympic Games.
“The Gold Coast, with its beautiful environment, has the potential to develop an internationally iconic skate and BMX facility,” consultants said.
Recommended sites were the Broadwater Parklands, Surfers Paradise or the Kirra Foreshore.
The report reveals the two best locations in the north and south for expanded facilities – to meet demand giving the exploding population growth among youth – are at the Runaway Bay Sports Precinct West and Betty Diamond Sports Complex in Bilinga.
Councillors also ticked off on exploring a district pump track in Southport.
Southern Coast city councillor Gail O’Neill said the Betty Diamond Sports Complex was “the better pick” and welcomed officers creating plans which could be presented for community consultation.
“I’m very happy with the pump track in the south. We don’t have many facilities like that – it will be a real coup. I’m sure Runaway Bay will be well used as well,” she said.
Nerang-based councillor Peter Young was backed by councillors when seeking support to make his area the “cycle centre of the Gold Coast” by launching an investigation of relocating and upgrading existing facilities.
“I think it indicates we are genuinely concerned for the wellbeing of our young people,” he said.
Former Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said the push for skateparks and pump tracks was led by Mayor Tom Tate. This saw the Pizzey Park upgrade, as the sport gained world exposure.
Consultants talked up the Coast’s medal count after skateboarding and BMX made its debut appearance at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Gold Coast athletes made a huge impact, including Keegan Palmer, who in an outstanding performance won gold in the men’s park skateboarding event and Logan Martin, who won the Men’s BMX Freestyle.
Women’s skateboarding was also in a strong position with Arisa Trew winning gold at the Paris Olympics and Chloe Covell performing strongly at World championships.
“Whilst skateboarding and BMX were demonstration sports at Tokyo and Paris, the 2032 Brisbane Olympics is the first time skateboarding will be an official Olympic sport,” consultants said.
An estimated 20,000 Gold Coast residents – aged five to 24 years – regularly use the City’s skate and BMX facilities every year on skateboards, scooters and BMX bikes.
The age group will grow from 165,847 in 2021 to 207,526 by 2041.
But the Gold Coast has the lowest provision of local skate parks compared to population. Sunshine Coast has almost double the number of facilities.
“There are currently 23 public skate facilities within the city, with an additional one under construction. There is only one city scale facility in Pizzey Park, 11 district and the remaining 12 are classed as local,” consultants said.
Most popular are the Nerang BMX Club, Pizzey Park pump track and Ashmore BMX club.
Consultants said the Runaway Bay Sports Precinct West has been identified as the preferred location for a northern pump track, fitting into its Sports Precinct Master Plan.
In the south, Goodwin Park scored the highest of sites considered but Betty Diamond Sports Complex was recommended because it was easier to deliver and would cause less impact on the local area.
“Within the city, there is a current deficit of 9 local, 2 district and 2 city skate parks, which is predicted to increase to 17 local, 4 district and 3 city skate parks by 2041,” the report said.
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