DARLINGTON teenagers aspiring to reach the heights of a world-class skateboarder are celebrating after swaying councillors in their favour.
Mundaring council voted on Tuesday against a Shire proposal to upgrade the village BMX bike jumps and agreed to ask the State Government to redirect a $25,000 election promise towards a skate park extension.
Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes, who lives in Darlington, made the funding commitment last year to upgrade the bike jumps, which former councillor Trish Cook said were not well used and required maintenance.
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READ NOW“The skate park is extremely popular and is used by bikes, scooters and skateboards, plus it’s a hang out place for youth that don’t want to play organised sport,” she said.
As head of the Darlington Community Recreation Advisory Group (DCRAG), she kick started community consultation and last month a cross-section of the skateboarding, BMX riding, rollerblading and scooter riding communities were invited to Darlington Pavilion to consider the options.
Together with results from a social media poll, public opinion overwhelmingly favoured the purchase of a $30,000 half pipe for skateboarders to practise their ‘tricks’.
Professional skateboarder Will Kitely, who lives opposite the skate park and mentors youth at the facility, helped coordinate the meeting attended by Mr Hughes and Councillor Doug Jeans.
Ms Cook said DCRAG presented enhancement of the skate park to the Shire with potential assistance with the build from DaSRA, the group behind the community build of Darlington Pavilion.
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