Dwellingup has celebrated the opening of a new pump track and skate park, with hundreds turning out to be among the first to test out the new ramps.
The ribbon was officially cut at the new park on Wednesday, April 17 as part of Dwellingup's national trails project set to harness the adventure town's untapped potential.
Now well on its way to becoming a key Western Australian trails town, the skate park and pump track are the first two deliverables of the national trails town project.
After a welcome to country by local resident Elder Maitland Hill, the park was officially opened and skaters dropped-in to the new facilities negotiating the asphalt circuit of the pump track and carving the rails, ramps, half and quarter pipes, banks, ledges and curbs of the skate park.
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Shire of Murray president David Bolt said the opening was an Easter treat for locals and visitors, with the new central features offering an enjoyable, productive outlet for enthusiasts and supporting town trails activity.
"While both amenities encourage increased participation in and uptake of the disciplines, the pump track especially offers a fit-for-purpose warm up facility for competitive and non-competitive bike trail users and supports mountain biking and trails events held in Dwellingup," he said.
"The shire has worked closely with community representatives in the delivery of this significant project and the opening of the amenities was a festive celebration for this exciting milestone."
The project increases the facilities available for young people, visitors and mountain bike enthusiasts of all ages.
- Lotterywest chief executive officer Susan Hunt
Murray-Wellington MP Robyn Clarke said the state government was proud to support the project.
"Developing Dwellingup as a national trails town will bring a number of benefits to the region, boosting local businesses and creating local jobs," she said.
"It has been fantastic to see the Shire of Murray and the local community work together to achieve this outcome."
The skate park and pump track project was supported by the state government as well as Lotterywest and Alcoa.
Lotterywest chief executive officer Susan Hunt said the skate park and pump track would be a boost to the region.
"Lotterywest is delighted to support this project with a $251,000 grant," she said.
"The project increases the facilities available for young people, visitors and mountain bike enthusiasts of all ages.
"When Western Australians play Lotterywest games, the benefits flow back to Western Australia and to local community projects like this skate park and pump track."
Canning MP Andrew Hastie, who helped to secure $3.5 million from the federal government for the overall Dwellingup Adventures Trails project, said he was excited to be a part of the skate park and pump track's opening.
"In 2017 the Coalition delivered the first of more than $4.7 million to help make Dwellingup a tourism hub - the pump track's opening is the first step of that plan coming to life," he said.
"Our plan for Dwellingup is about drawing more tourists to the region by leveraging its natural assets and beauty.
"That means more visitors, prosperous business and more jobs.
"It was exciting to see so many kids down on the pump track last week - it's a sign of what's to come for the Peel region."
Other key aspects of Dwellingup's national trails town project include the expansion of the current visitor centre as well as landscaping and upgraded parking and pathways.
The overall project is further aligned with trails infrastructure development projects including the Murray Valley Mountain Bike Trails Network and Dwellingup Adventure Trails. For further project information visit the Shire of Murray website.