Uranquinty community to benefit from new skatepark

Uranquinty residents can look forward to more community facilities as planning for the construction of a new skatepark is finalised.

Wagga Wagga City Council’s Director Community, Janice Summerhayes said the skatepark will enhance the community facilities at Uranquinty and add to the family-friendly appeal of the village which is home to 900 residents.

“It will be located adjacent to the Uranquinty Oval and Tennis Courts, and improve the facilities available for children and families to participate in exercise-based activities; skateboarding is an all seasons pastime.”

“The collaboration between several partners – Wagga Wagga City Council, Origin Energy, the Uranquinty community and Federal Department of Industry Innovation & Science was integral to the healthy budget needed to fund the construction,” she said.

Paul Olsen, Station Manager at Origin Energy’s Uranquinty Power Station said the company was delighted to be able to chip in with a $20,000 contribution.

“As a member of the local community we’re always keen to support initiatives that add to the well-being of Uranquinty’s residents and we believe this fantastic new facility will make an important contribution to that aim,” he said.

The new skatepark will be modular style, which, when compared to concrete skateparks, provide greater variety in design and are made from flexible and impact-absorbing materials, which can help reduce injuries. Another modular style park was built at Forest Hill last year.

It’s the seventh skate park in the Wagga Wagga local government area, with one at Forest Hill Oval, Chambers Park in Tolland, Henwood Park in Kooringal, Bolton Park in Central, Webb Park in Ashmont and William Street in North Wagga.

The project is a collaboration between the Uranquinty community who contributed in-kind assistance to construction, Wagga Wagga City Council contributed $50,000, Origin Energy contributed $20,000 and another $20,000 was received from the Federal Department of Industry Innovation & Science.

Community facilities such as skateparks which improve the liveability of the city and surrounding villages are identified in the Wagga Wagga City Council Recreation, Open Space and Community Strategy 2040.