open and happening

What a busy month it has been. By now you will have worked out the park is open.

photo Luke Brown

On October 31st the youth space was officially opened by Sen Kate Lundy and Minister Andrew Barr. A skate and BMX comp was held and the day was very very successful. There are plenty of images on skateboard.com.au if you would like to check it out.


There are still a few loose ends to complete at the park. We have some box sections going in at the back of the banks this week. We are also expecting the shade structures to be completed in the next week or two with mesh as well signs installed to replace the temporary ones currently in place.

photo Lea Durie

We have also ordered a couple of bollards to replace the gate at the path entrance to the park and will hopefully have them in very soon.

We have decided to save some money and disruption by not proceeding with the resurfacing of some of the areas of the space. Whilst this would have looked amazing and would have offered an unusual skate experience it would also have meant closing the park for application and curing for up to two weeks. In addition the suitability of the application and maintenance issues were not assured.

You will also have noticed a significant amount of tagging. This is disappointing but not unexpected. Tags have been removed from non skateable surfaces and this will be ongoing. Those areas which have been sealed are being left for the moment whilst we get final info on the best method for removal without damaging the sealed skate surface. It is ACT Government policy to remove all graffiti as soon as possible.

The sports level lighting is also on order, however, it will not be operational until ACTEW install a new substation to cater for the park. There is a lead time on this of several months.

Over the next week or so Parks Conservation and Lands staff will be setting up a meeting with key people to act as an ongiong sounding board and contact point for the youth space. Please let us know if you have any issues that you would like discussed.

closer and closer

The finish is in sight. The place is taking form. This week we'll see lots of progress on site and even start to see seating and shelters going at the end of the week.

The rain has slowed things down a little, the cold on the weekend didn't help much either. It isn't fun working in sleet , the Convic team report. We are expecting to take down the fences on October 14th, all going well. The last part of the job is applying a special finish to sections of the banks which Convic tell us will make the park even better.

We do need to make sure people keep out of the park until the fences are down and the site is open for use. If anyone gets into the site earlier safety inspectors from Work Cover will close the site while an investigation is undertaken, a report filed and changes made to secure the site further. This will mean it will take at least two weeks longer to open it - so if you hear of anyone keen to sneak in tell them how bad an idea it is - for everyone.

There was a great article in the paper on the weekend - take a look here on the new Canberra Skateboarding Association website canberraskateboarding.org

Week 6 - Mud

If it hadn't started raining we would have been up to the skate park transitions by now - but now these next few days which will involve a lot of pumping of water and lots and lots of mud.

This is what it looked like on the weekend.

(photos from Luke Brown)

Week 5

Construction on site at the beginning of week 5 is moving along at a cracking pace. The flat areas along the top and copings are in place - and don't they look fantastic?

The transitions and banks are currently being excavated, with concrete for these going in very soon. Now that all the lower areas have been dug out our greatest fear is that it starts raining and they fill with water, which will slow construction down.

Rain is forecast for later this week - hopefully if it does come it will only be a dusting.

Progress

Time for a progress report.


The bulk earthworks, drainage and electrical conduiting is almost finished. It is starting to take shape, though doesn't look much like anything recognisable at the moment.



Convic are on site and have commenced construction. The first concrete pour should be later this week.

Launch

Canberra turned on the perfect day to launch a youth plaza.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope MLA spoke about how good it was to have one of these marvellous facilities in Canberra and thanked Minister Albanese for the Federal Government funding.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government The Hon Anthony Albanese, MP (on the right) congratulated all involved in getting to this point and talked about the Nation Building Program creating jobs in these uncertain times.

Canberra Skateboarding Association president Luke Brown coped very well being put on the spot by media, with no time to prepare.

An tour of the site was organised where we were able to show plans of what a fantastic facility that will be to Minister Albanese.

The project had good coverage on WIN news last night. Luke Brown and Lea Durie were also interviewed on ABC local radio yesterday where Luke was very articulate and Lea wished she was.

And while building continues we have our first day of wet weather, which will slow things up unfortunately, but not for long.

And this week we start planning the official opening for the beginning of November and are still keen to hear your ideas. Do you want a comp, a clinic, both, know of a good band to play etc etc?

Come along Monday

Come along one and all to the Official Project Launch on Monday at 10am.

You all deserve it.

There will be food.

There will be construction.

There will be some short speeches by the Chief Minister Jon Stanhope MLA and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government The Hon Anthony Albanese, MP (the funding body)

Monday August 10th at Eddison Park.

We hope to see you there.