The current skate facilities are worn and outdated and no longer meet the needs of Kyneton’s young people or the broader community. The upgrade has been identified as a short‑term priority in the Macedon Ranges Shire Skate and BMX Strategy 2023, which aims to provide high‑quality facilities across the shire.

The redesign is also an opportunity to create a more inclusive and contemporary space that reflects how people use skate and youth recreation facilities today, while improving connections to the surrounding Showgrounds precinct.

The project is being funded through a combination of Council and Australian Government funding.

Council has funded the design phase, including concept and detailed designs and a preliminary cost plan to guide delivery. This work will also help determine how the project can be staged and delivered.

Council has also secured a $750,000 Australian Government funding commitment, which will contribute toward construction of the new facility.

Council’s Skate and BMX Strategy estimates the total project cost at around $1.5 million, so additional funding will be required to deliver the project in full. A staged approach is therefore being considered to ensure key elements can be delivered with the confirmed funding, while Council continues to seek further funding to complete the remaining stages.

Some elements are already confirmed and can’t be changed, including the site location, overall budget, safety requirements and project scope, which must align with the Skate and BMX Strategy.

The concept design has been informed by community feedback gathered during the pre-design phase, along with the recommendations set out in Council’s Skate and BMX Strategy.

The Strategy establishes the location, budget and intended district-level (destination) role of the facility. The strategy also outlines a primarily street-focused layout, with some transition elements including a bowl as well as a pump track and other recreation elements – such as a half court.

Community consultation undertaken as part of this project (pre-design phase) has also helped to shape the draft concept design, informing the layout, form and mix of skate and recreational features shown in the draft concept design.

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Council has appointed Convic, specialist skate and youth space designers, to lead the design process.

Council’s Skate and BMX Strategy recommends a district-level skatepark for Kyneton of around 1200m². However, size alone does not determine a facility’s classification—district level skateparks typically range between 600m² and 1500m².

As the project has progressed, the concept has been refined to a footprint of approximately 1000m² in response to updated cost estimates. This adjustment helps Council to balance size, budget and included features to ensure the project remains deliverable and financially responsible within the overall estimated value of $1.5 million.

Importantly, this change does not affect the skatepark’s status as a district level facility. The adjusted skate park size remains within the typical district-level range and will still provide a high-quality, diverse and functional space that caters to a wide range of users and skill levels and attract users from across the wider area.

The Skate and BMX Strategy identifies a district level facility as a larger, high-quality skatepark designed to serve a broader catchment, often attracting users from across multiple towns.

These facilities typically:

• are larger in size (generally around 600–1500m²)
• cater to all skill levels, from beginners through to advanced users
• provide a wide variety of features, such as street, park and transition elements
• support a mix of recreation, skill development and informal competition
• serve a wider community, often within a 30-minute travel distance.

Importantly, size alone does not determine whether a facility is considered ‘district level.’ A skatepark may be large enough to meet the size criteria, but may lack the variety, quality or functionality expected for a district level facility.

The Kyneton Showgrounds site was identified as the preferred location through Council’s Skate and BMX Strategy. As part of developing the strategy, Council assessed a range of potential locations against skate and youth recreation needs across the Shire and identified the Showgrounds as the most suitable location for a district-level facility.

The site was selected because it:

• is centrally located and well connected to the township
• has access to parking, amenities and open space
• forms part of the broader Showgrounds recreation precinct.

The skate park location has been strategically determined and confirmed as part of the project therefore no change to location is being considered.