A REGIONAL SUCCESS

Many communities in remote and regional Australia have invested in local playgrounds to keep local kids engaged and active and provide facilities for holidaying visitors. Parkitect spoke to three regional councils about how installing a Parkitect Modular Pumptrack has worked for their community.

Tibooburra Skate Park, NSW

Tibooburra is often referred to in the news weather reports as the hottest town in NSW. Located 335 km north of Broken Hill, 1504 km north-west of Sydney, 900 km from Adelaide, and 183 m above sea level, it’s one of the state’s most isolated towns. 

In 2019, Regional Development Australia - Far West NSW were weighing up their options for a new community playspace. After speaking with a couple of local contractors, the organisation’s committee chose to install Parkitect’s World Cup Composite Modular Pumptrack. 

“We decided on the pump track for many reasons,” explained Leesa Zupanovich, RDA, Project Manager. “There are very few activities for young people in our area and we wanted to have a facility that could be used by people of all ages. Because of our remote location, it was extremely expensive to create a quality local playspace. 

“I’m pleased to say the process of this project was trouble-free. From the initial enquiry to the final delivery on site, the communication and information provided by Parkitect was outstanding and professional. 

“The pump track is very successful and proving to be a great community addition, providing entertainment and physical activities for the local children and visiting tourists and their families.”

Mukinbudin Recreation Park, WA

You’ll find Mukinbudin by travelling 296 kilometres North East of Perth. In the North Eastern Wheatbelt, the population of the Shire of Mukinbudin is around 800. 

The Council had received community feedback that local kids wanted a skatepark. After consultation and research into the best playspace alternatives, they chose to install a Modular Pumptrack (Advanced configuration in composite materials). 

“We chose the pump track as the local children have long been talking about a skate park,” according to Dirk Sellenger, Shire of Mukinbudin CEO. “This modular design is a modern, simple and cost-effective alternative to the classic concrete skate park, whilst offering increased flexibility.

“The new track is going well. It’s used by all age groups from ages two to twenty, on everything from scooters to pushbikes. An interesting observation is that the younger children enjoy simply running around the track.”

Shire of Laverton, WA

The community pump track in the town of Laverton in WA is probably the most remotely located track in the world.

Laverton is around 950km north-east of Perth, via the Great Eastern Highway and Kalgoorlie in the far Northern Goldfields of Western Australia. 

With limited recreational activities for children and young people, the Council were keen to find a playspace alternative that would be enjoyed by all ages and was easy to install.

The Modular Pumptrack project was designed in consultation with the local youth services team and the council. The track was built in place of a skate park that catered mainly for older children and youth.

Shire President Patrick Hill was part of the committee who originally chose to install the pump track in 2018. “The local kids use the pump track all the time. My own grandkids love jumping onto it! In fact, it’s so well used, we’d love it to be a bit bigger. It’s so popular, we’re thinking of moving it nearer to the school.”

Need to know more about Parkitect’s unique Modular Pumptrack system? Call Shaun on 0411 423 773 and discuss your next project.