The young people of Devonport took to their wheels today as Assistant Treasurer and Senator for Tasmania, Nick Sherry, and Member for Braddon, Sid Sidebottom MP, officially opened the Devonport Skate Park community infrastructure project.
"This new skate park is an exciting outlet for young people, giving them a chance to socialise, get out in the fresh air and get active in this state-of-art sporting facility," the Assistant Treasurer said.
"The skate park forms a vital part of the Devonport Sporting Precinct, providing a new area for skaters, roller bladers and freestyle BMX riders."
"It's something the young people of Devonport have needed since the Mersey Bluff skate bowl was demolished in 2006."
The Rudd Government provided $183,000 to the Devonport City Council for the project, from the $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, which is part of the Rudd Government's Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan.
"This program is helping create jobs, provide local cash injections and deliver long-term infrastructure in communities across Australia," the Assistant Treasurer said.
"It's the single largest federal investment in community infrastructure throughout Australia and it benefits young people most of all."
Local Federal Member Sid Sidebottom announced the Rudd Government funding for the project on 25 February and is delighted at the end result.
"As well as unveiling a fantastic facility for local skateboarders and roller bladers, this project was also about supporting local jobs and boosting our local economy," he said.
"Through this project we've seen support for local construction work, which is exactly what is needed to boost our local economy."
"I congratulate the Devonport Council for getting their proposal in and then completing the construction so quickly."
"This project is a fantastic example of all tiers of government working together to support local jobs and to build a high quality community space," Mr Sidebottom said.
The project involved the construction of the skate park bowl and landscaping around the park, creating an exciting new sport and leisure facility for the community.
"In partnership with every council in the country, the Australian Government is delivering more than 3,300 small and larger scale building projects, including new and refurbished public libraries, sporting facilities, parks, playgrounds and child care centres," the Assistant Treasurer said.
"I congratulate the Devonport City Council and the local community for their commitment to this project. It's great to see the community come together and back local projects like this."