Bike track and skatepark plans finalised

FOLLOWING two years of community campaigning, Meredith’s skatepark is set to receive an overhaul.

Final designs for the space, located at Meredith Cricket and Recreation Reserve, have been confirmed by Golden Plains Shire and include an updated 100-metre BMX track.

Mayor Cr Gavin Gamble said the plans showcase an improvement over the town’s current facility.

“With additional funding from council to support the Victorian Government’s commitment, the enhanced final design will deliver a longer, larger BMX track, a new play space unit and an upgraded skatepark to be enjoyed by children and young people of all ages,” he said.

“The Meredith multi play space is a great local project and the community and stakeholder engagement has delivered a bigger and better result for young people in Meredith and surrounding towns.”

Funded with $420,000 from the State Government and $253,000 from Golden Plains Shire, the development was sparked by a push for improved facilities by residents Harley Murfitt and Max Love.

With 1.2 metre jumps for the bike track, and beginner and intermediate ramps set for the skatepark, Harley said he’s “excited” to see his original vision come closer to fruition.

“I’m really happy with these plans. The skatepark wasn’t really what we wanted at the start but then they changed the pump track to a BMX track which is what the original design had,” he said.

“We wanted a play space too which didn’t really happen at the start and now they’ve added an actual netted one which is good for the community.

“This was a lot of hard work that me and Max put into it, so I’m really surprised and happy that council have changed the plans to more closely fit what we wanted at the star.”

Harley and Max’s initial efforts saw them recognised in the 2019-2020 Mayoral Youth Awards.

Development is set to begin in April 2023, and Harley said he’ll be using it from day one.