Two new Coast attractions set to test the skills of scooter, skateboard and bike riders are slated for completion late this year.
Design and construction of new pump tracks at Coolum’s Lions and Norrie Job Park and Aura’s new Boab Oasis Park in Nirimba are progressing.
At Coolum, Sunshine Coast Council has engaged a specialist contractor to finalise the pump track design.
The project is jointly funded by Sunshine Coast Council and the Queensland Government.
Construction at the Coolum site on David Low Way will begin once landscaping works are completed and the final track design receives approval. The upgrades are expected to be completed by late September.
The broader park improvements will include an additional barbecue shelter, upgraded fitness station, better path connections, a shade sail and spaces linking the pump track to the rest of the park.
The project was identified as a major community priority in the park’s landscape plan and follows the recently completed $1.6 million Stage 1 transformation of Lions and Norrie Job Park, which delivered new shelters, barbecues, pathways, landscaping and fitness equipment.
Community consultation on a draft concept plan released late last year called for features including taller jumps and pumps, crossover opportunities, jumpable lines, higher drop-ins for greater speed and coastal-inspired coloured markings.
Sunshine Coast Council Division 9 Councillor Maria Suarez said community feedback had played a key role in shaping the facility.
“By engaging a specialist contractor, we’re ensuring this track will be built to a high standard and will reflect the ideas and aspirations local riders shared with us,” she said.
Cr Suarez said the track would add to the appeal of the upgraded park precinct.
“This new track will complement the basketball half court and other improvements, giving young people and families another active reason to visit Coolum Beach and enjoy the park,” she said.
Meanwhile, in Nirimba, construction is progressing on Boab Oasis Park, a nearly five-hectare recreational space that will include Aura’s first pump track alongside an all-abilities playground designed for inclusive play.
Already home to more than 30 parks and playgrounds, Aura’s newest park has been designed to encourage children of all ages and abilities to play together. Landscape architect Urbis has planned the park with accessibility and adventure in mind.
Associate director at Urbis Sam Burns said the aim was to create a welcoming and inclusive community space.
For riders, the pump track is expected to become a major attraction, catering for everyone from beginners on scooters to experienced BMX riders.
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Aura community development manager Charlotte Buckley said the addition would bring a new dimension to the growing community’s outdoor lifestyle.
“Parks are such an important part of everyday life in Aura, so it’s always exciting to see a new one come to life,” Ms Buckley said.
“The pump track is something completely different for Aura and we can’t wait to see riders of all ages giving it a go.
“It’s easy to imagine this becoming a place where families spend time together and neighbours stop by to watch the action.”
When completed later this year, both projects are expected to become major drawcards for active families across the Sunshine Coast, building on the popularity of existing pump tracks at Sugar Bag Road Town Reserve in Caloundra West and Forestwood Drive Park in Buderim.
