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PROJECT OVERVIEW

Why is the project being rolled out?

South Hedland Skate Park (Park) is one of Australia's largest and most advanced skate parks, serving as a key hub for Hedland's youth. It offers youth a dedicated space where they can keep active and engaged year round. 

Shade structures over the Park have been eagerly anticipated by the Hedland community for years. These structures will encourage increased use of one the Town's most loved community spaces, satisfying demand for more shade at community facilities.

Pilbara summers regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius. These extreme conditions often limit the time unshaded outdoor public facilities are used during hotter months. 

The structure will provide significant shade over existing infrastructure, embedding support poles into the park. The creative design will provide South Hedland pedestrians and drivers with a novel focal point near the town centre, incorporating modern art into the structure's walls.

The project delivers a number of objectives in the Town's Strategic Community Plan 2018-2028 (SCP), including that facilities and community infrastructure are revitalised across town.

NEWS

Wednesday 20 July 2022

Roof installation works progress

Thursday 3 March 2022

Works resume on South Hedland Skate Park shade structure

From Tuesday 8 March, works will resume on the construction of the South Hedland skate park shade structure. The works will be undertaken by contractors MG Group.

The project is expected to be completed in Spring 2022.

The temporarily reopened main bowl area will now close as construction recommences.

The Town’s Youth Services Team will deliver new programming initiatives to account for the closure.

Entry onto the skate park during construction is forbidden.

Please be mindful of workers, signage and machinery in the area.

Friday 1 October 2021

Partial reopening of South Hedland Skate Park

The ‘main bowl’ section of the South Hedland Skate Park will reopen to the community from Monday 4 October, reactivating a site popular with local youth.

The section will be open from Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm, until the site recloses to continue construction of the shade structure.

Use of the reopened section will be out-of-bounds overnight and there will be no water fountains accessible at the site.

Sadly, the construction of the shade structure has been delayed due to a national steel shortage, an issue impacting the delivery schedule of capital works projects across the state.

The estimated arrival date of the steel for the shade structure is late November 2021, however further delays cannot be ruled out.

The Park has been closed since May 2021 as part of the Town’s upgrade of the facility, with all demolition and substructure works recently completed. These works included the installation of 19 footings reaching seven metres into the ground, which will eventually support 2,700 square metre shade structure seven metres into the air.

Town of Port Hedland CEO Carl Askew said the partial reopening of the Park was the right call, balancing a delayed works schedule with the needs of the community.

“I acknowledge the shade structure’s delay is disappointing for the community and I’d like to thank everyone for their patience. Reopening the Park’s main bowl section gives locals space to skate and cycle in the interim.

“The section will be open from Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm, but due to the removal of the lighting is not safe to use at night.

“Unprecedented national infrastructure investment has resulted in significant delays in the fabrication of structural steel which is out of the Town’s control; however, we will continue to work with contractors to adapt works schedules and find solutions to deliver the critical infrastructure investments our community deserves as soon as we can.

“Once constructed, the shade structure will provide 80% shade coverage, provide a novel focal point in the town centre, feature LED lighting for night-time activity and there’ll be an opportunity to install public art.”

Community members must not enter cordoned off areas.

The Town is considering options for pop up skate park activities in South Hedland once the park recloses.

Key Benefits

  • 80% shade coverage achieved over 3 stages of construction
  • Providing significant, sun-safe shade over existing infrastructure to benefit youth
  • Embedding support poles into the park
  • Utilising and enhancing existing assets
  • Providing pedestrians and drivers with a novel focal point
  • Opportunity for public art installation
  • LED lighting for night-time activity
  • Supports 140 jobs during construction

Construction Timeline

  • Construction due to be completed in late 2021

Project Partners

The Town is seeking funding partners to contribute $3.4 million to complete stages 2 and 3 and fully enclose the canopies with cladding and include interactive LED lighting for night-time activity.

This will ensure the new structures will deliver a higher amenity while complimenting the inherent characteristics of the park.

The Town will contribute $1.6 million to the projects, with Government / Industry contribution totaling $3.4 million.