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The opening of the Aldinga skatepark was the culmination of eight years of dedication by young people and their families. And I was pleased to lead the campaign on their behalf to secure the $1.3M required to build the facility.
After being knocked back by the Onkaparinga Council in 2017, 11 year old Shaun Williams passed on to me the letter he’d written to the Mayor.
Based on Shaun’s letter, the Labor Party pledged money for the skatepark in the lead up to the state election. When the Liberal Party won the election Premier Steven Marshall refused to provide money for the skatepark.
So, at the 2022 election Peter Malinauskas and Labor again promised a regional level skatepark to the long-suffering kids of Aldinga, Sellicks, Maslins, Willunga and McLaren Vale.
After the election win work started with local kids being asked what they wanted the skatepark to look like.
It began to take shape and Sunday was such an emotional celebration as so many people felt the enormous satisfaction of years of hard work resulting in smiling faces, active kids and brand new infrastructure.
Along the way the kids have learnt about working with political parties, elected officials, state governments, local councils and the wider community.
They now know what comes from hard work, a strong vision and tenacity. They played the long game – which must seem so long to a ten year old – and they won.
Skateboarding is an Olympic sport and who knows what international careers will be launched from the Aldinga skatepark. But what is certain is that generations of locals and visitors will have a top-class venue to be off their phones, leading active lives surrounded by others.
Leon Bignell MP, Member for Mawson
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