New Umina skate park and BMX track could cost $3.5M

The Umina Community Group has been told by Central Coast Council staff that redevelopment of the Umina skate park, basketball area and BMX track could cost around $3.5 million.

Community group project manager Mr Peter Sprigget said he believed the plans for the area would be "community altering".

He described the existing Umina Skate Park as "sad, tired and unsafe" with no shade, seating or even water bubblers.

He said it was a symptom of how those within the Umina community between the ages of five and 20 had been "left in the cold".

Feedback from surveys had identified a need to improve facilities for "small, little and big kids".

"There is no half pipe, the BMX track is muddy and covered in rhino bindies and they are trying to play basketball on a half court," he said.

Mr Sprigget said Council staff had been working with the Community Group to develop plans that would transform the area into a "world class activity park".

The project is expected to cost around $3.5 million to complete and would need assistance from local, state and federal government, he said.

The plans incorporated walkways, barbecues and exercise equipment.

"It will revolutionise the community down at Umina," he said.

The Umina Community Group has been targeting local businesses to also assist by funding aspects of the project and the Ettalong Bendigo Community Bank had contributed $50,000 seed capital through its community grants program.

Deputy mayor Cr Chris Holstein said the Council was "doing the consultation and getting the feedback".

Cr Holstein said he had asked Council staff for a list of next steps so the project can move towards a formal design and then construction.

"This is not going to be a cheap project.

"It will require assistance from other levels of government," he said.

"My job as a councillor is to keep it moving but it is going to be reliant upon community support," he said.

"It is a project that I set the target of doing in the three-year term of this Council and I know fellow ward councillors Marquart and Mehrtens are both of that same attitude.

"We have to just keep pushing and encouraging community support," he said.

"It will be a venue that will have shade, seating, and recreational capacity for people and actually in itself will become a beacon that people even from outside the area will want to come to.

"The next Olympics will have skate boarding in it so it could also become a sporting venue to attract events and hopefully one day maybe this might be where you hold the Australian selection finals for skate boarding in the Olympics," he said.

SOURCE:

Speech, 8 Nov 2018

Peter Sprigget, Umina Community Group

Interview, 14 Nov 2018

Chris Holstein, Central Coast Council

Reporter: Jackie Pearson