Skatepark's upgrade won't cost ratepayers

Far North District Councillor Sally Macauley

Kaikohe youth are in for a skatepark upgrade and it shouldn't cost ratepayers a cent.

The town's Memorial Ave skatepark has proved popular since it was built more than a decade ago.

Now Far North District Councillor Sally Macauley, who was behind the original community board project, is talking to young skateboarders to find out if it needs updating or improving.

She has also spoken to professional international skateboarder Dave Crabb, who now lives at Mahinepua, for his views.

Drainage in Memorial Park also needed fixing and there were problems with leaves from surrounding trees dropping onto the skatepark surface.

Mrs Macauley is now arranging for architectural drawings to be prepared for an upgraded skate park she estimated would cost $120,000.

However, like the original skate park, it would not cost ratepayers a cent, she said.

In 2001, when she chaired the Kaikohe Community Board and the current park was built, she applied to ASB Community Trust, Pub Charity and other funders for money, and received $180,000.

She believed the same strategy would work this time. But before she could put in any grant applications she had to get final plans drawn up and get three quotes for construction. The council, which owned the land, would also have to give approval and issue building consents. That meant construction was unlikely to start before next summer, but it also gave skateboarders plenty of time to have their say in the new park's design.