TEN-year-old Salva is persisting in his quest to see a skatepark built in Quarry Hill.<\/p>\n
Since he first began his campaign, he\u2019s collected 149 signatures for a petition, which has now been presented to the City of Greater Bendigo council at last week\u2019s meeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a few kids that I know around this area and a few skaters as well and lot of people who scoot as well and there\u2019s no real places to do that except footpaths and roads,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As part of the effort Salva said he had spoken with mayor Cr Jennifer Alden, who encouraged his campaigning.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said she would submit it to a council meeting, and we watched the livestream of it,\u201d Salva said.<\/p>\n
He said it was \u201cawesome\u201d to see his petition read out during the meeting.<\/p>\n
The Quarry Hill Primary School student has been skating for the past 18 months and has to travel to either McIvor Road or Eaglehawk for the nearest skate park.<\/p>\n
Salva\u2019s mum Heidi McIntosh said she it\u2019s great to watch Salva\u2019s passion for something beneficial to be built for the neighbourhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that just shows he\u2019s thinking beyond himself and I think that\u2019s pretty cool,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
With no nearby skateparks, Ms McIntosh said she is frequently driving Salva and his friends across town to skate.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got one or two really good mates that love skating as well and I find that I do I\u2019m driving to the skatepark fairly often or picking up a mate and taking them to the skatepark together,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The City of Greater Bendigo recently announced plans for Bendigo Skatepark on McIvor Road to be moved to Ewing Park, subject to State Government funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf a skatepark is built at Ewing Park that means that Salva could ride his bike there with a skateboard on his back and it could be like a ten-minute bike ride,\u201d Ms McIntosh said.<\/p>\n
Salva and his family have been kept in touch regarding any updates to Ewing Park, and council will have a response within two meetings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe council have been so supportive in just acknowledging the idea and acknowledging that it\u2019s come from someone who\u2019s young,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Salva said having a skatepark close to home will allow him to continue to develop his favourite hobby.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just love the freedom of being able to cruise along without handlebars and I like all the tricks you can do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TEN-year-old Salva is persisting in his quest to see a skatepark built in Quarry Hill. Since he first began his campaign, he\u2019s collected 149 signatures for a petition, which has now been presented to the City of Greater Bendigo council at last week\u2019s meeting. \u201cThere\u2019s a few kids that I know around this area and […]<\/p>\n