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There’ll be plenty of flips, spins and kickflips when Narangba’s youth plaza and skate park opens to the public on Saturday 14 April.

To celebrate the event Council is giving away 40 free ‘Ramp Up’ skate lessons with the pros from at Australian Skateboarding Community to help riders aged 5-15 hone their craft.

Division 11 Councillor Darren Grimwade said he was stoked to see Narangba’s skate park become a reality.

“This campaign came about through lobbying from local kids who were crying out for more activities to be provided in their area,” Cr Grimwade said.

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“I want to thank them for their proactive advocacy because their initiative has helped to deliver a very impressive piece of community infrastructure.

“I’m hoping to see a lot of beginners registering for our free learn to skate sessions on Saturday 14, but you’ll need to get in quick because places are strictly limited.

“In addition to the lessons we’re going to be giving away a free scooter and a skateboard just before the official opening gets underway at 9am – all you have to do to enter is be there on the day and put your name in the draw.”

Bookings for ‘Ramp Up’ clinics are essential and can be made online: www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/healthy-active/ramp-up/timetable/

The specially designed skate park will challenge riders with elevated banks, split levels, moguls and ledges, adding to the existing basketball hoop adjacent to the skate park facility.

Cr Grimwade said council had worked closely with the community on the development of this project through a number of online surveys and face-to-face consultation sessions which helped shape the development of the youth plaza and skate park precinct.

“Projects like this encourage young people to lead active and healthy lifestyles,” he said.

Artists Impression

“That’s exactly why council has invested $29 million in this year’s budget towards parks, playgrounds, and sport and recreational facilities across the region to create healthy and active communities.”

Norfolk Lakes Neighbourhood Watch Group, Area Coordinator, Barbara Moloney said the new youth plaza and skate park would make a great addition to the Harris Avenue Sports Grounds for young people.

“This space will give kids the opportunity to head outdoors, get active and enjoy interacting with other young people in their community,” Ms Moloney said.

“We would like to express our thanks to council for allocating substantial funds to this project and we look forward to seeing the youth use this area positively.”

Young people in the northern Brisbane and southern Moreton Bay regions will have access to state of the art facilities and a local tertiary education from 2020.

The Turnbull Government will guarantee funding for student places at the future Petrie Campus of the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The Member for Dickson Peter Dutton and the Member for Petrie Luke Howarth announced that they have secured future Budget funding of $69.4 million over three years from 2019-20.

The funding will provide for 1200 student bachelor places when the new campus opens in 2020, then 2400 bachelor places in 2021 and 3600 ongoing places from 2022.

Mr Dutton said the USC Petrie campus development was an important project for the region. “It will create jobs and revitalise local small businesses as well as making university education more accessible for local students.”

“Luke Howarth and I committed to give significant Federal support for this project. We have delivered $35 million in grant funding and a concessional loan for infrastructure projects. This helps guarantee student places and supports the local economy.”

“We said it would go ahead and it will,” Mr Dutton said.

Mr Howarth said he was excited about the opportunity the university would create for young people in the Petrie and Dickson electorates. “The project is somewhat out of sight-out of mind at the moment, but by 2020 – in just two years – having this new campus open will really help our young people study locally for the jobs of the future.”

USC’s Chief Operating Officer Dr Scott Snyder was informed of the funding guarantee in Canberra this week. “This is great news,” Dr Snyder said. “We are very, very pleased that the Federal Government has secured student places for the new campus so that young people in the Moreton Bay region can really engage in the knowledge economy and make the most of the opportunities it will present.”