MEDIA RELEASE - Champion local skaters ‘on board’ with major overhaul of Engadine skate facilities and recreational spaces

Local skaters, bike riders and other adventure sport enthusiasts are set to have a suite of new facilities to choose from, with work officially commencing today on the Engadine Active Sports Youth Precinct.

The new precinct, being delivered as part of the Cooper Street Reserve Masterplan project, will see over $3.2m invested in providing a host of expert designed outdoor recreational facilities set to cater for anyone aiming to develop a new skill, through to Olympic hopefuls honing their skating talents.

Work on the project has been made possible through a significant investment from the NSW Office of Sport’s Greater Sydney Sport Facility Fund, which has seen $1.65m put towards the design and delivery of an array of outstanding facilities on site.

Sutherland Shire Council has also made a significant investment in the upgrade to the Cooper Street Reserve, with matching funding contribution set to go towards delivering the Active Sports Youth Precinct, as well as additional all-abilities play spaces to cater for young children and families.

Sutherland Shire Mayor, Councillor Carmelo Pesce, was joined onsite by Member for Heathcote Maryanne Stuart and Ward Councillors Diedree Steinwall and Greg McLean to turn the first sod on the project, saying that the new facilities would be a major attraction for people looking to practice their chosen sport.

“The Engadine Active Sports Youth Precinct will deliver a whole range of amazing new facilities which will help local skaters, BMX riders, parkour enthusiasts to hone their skills or develop a new hobby,” Mayor Pesce said.

“With these types of sports growing in profile and popularity, Council has responded to requests from our community to provide more high-quality facilities to help support those with a passion for these pursuits.

“I’m immensely proud of the fact we will soon have such an outstanding array of new outdoor facilities to cater to local young people, which will help support local residents to get out and get active in one of the most vibrant communities in the Sutherland Shire.

Once complete, the precinct will include a host of enticing new facilities, including:

  • A ‘skate plaza’ skating course,
  • Pump track facilities for bike riders,
  • A parkour course,
  • A fitness course,
  • A bike repair station and water refill station,
  • Half-court basketball facilities; and,
  • Extensive seating and covered areas for shade

Mayor Pesce drew particular attention to the skate plaza course which will be delivered as part of the project, saying that it would compliment a range of other skating facilities which are either well used or soon to open to the public in other communities across the Sutherland Shire.

“We’ve got some amazing facilities here in the Sutherland Shire which attract skaters from far and wide, and the new skate plaza set to be delivered as part of the Engadine Active Sports Youth Precinct will mean there is even more on offer.

“The skate course at Bonna Point Reserve, Kurnell, has been a key attraction for skaters for some years, and an incredible new competition skate bowl and other skating facilities set to be completed at Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda, means local skaters are spoilt for choice when it comes to honing their skills.

“Cooper Street Reserve was home to the first skate ramp delivered by Council over 30 years ago, and with the sport having come a long way since then – including entry into the Olympics – I’m proud of the work that Council is doing in ensuring local facilities keep pace with the evolving needs of local skaters.

“I can’t wait to welcome local skaters down to Cooper Street Reserve once these new facilities are complete and see some of our talented local skaters put the latest addition to the Sutherland Shire’s skate infrastructure through its paces!”

Mayor Pesce said the project would not have been possible without a significant investment from the NSW Office of Sport, thanking those who had helped to support Council in meeting the recreational needs of local young people.

“I would particularly like to thank the former Member for Heathcote, Lee Evans, for his passionate advocacy for this project, and I know the new local member Maryanne Stuart will continue to fight for local projects to help deliver quality outdoor recreational facilities for our community to enjoy,” Mayor Pesce said.

Mayor Pesce said he was delighted to officially get the project underway today, saying the new and improved facilities set to be delivered over the life of the project would better cater for the outdoor recreational needs of people of all ages and abilities.

“These works have been informed by extensive community consultation, with the views of local residents instrumental in shaping the vision laid out in Council’s Cooper Street Reserve Masterplan,” Mayor Pesce said.

“I would like to thank all those local residents who gave so generously of their time in contributing towards these plans, as I know the finished product will serve our community well for generations to come.”

Work on the project is set to be completed in early 2024.