IT has been 20 years in the making, but the job is finally done.
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Lake Cathie Skate and Recreation Park advocacy group is rolling up their campaign now a brand new facility is complete and ready for action.
Volunteers will host a free family fun day from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, March 20 to celebrate the opening of the Lake Cathie skate park.
The day will include a skate competition for under 12s and under 16s, prizes, giveaways, free sausage sandwiches, a jumping castle and face painting.
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Group president Mick Fullbrook, who spearheaded the committee, said the advocacy group was first started by frustrated residents during a time when the only skating could be enjoyed in private backyards.
"This is the end of a 20 year road. There's a lot of capable young skaters around the area so we will leave it in their hands for the future," he said.
"I'm pretty relieved about the end. When we campaigned 20 years for a skate park and we were going to build it ourselves, it wasn't going to be where it is now.
"I'm super-stoked because it's in a way better spot, built by professionals and a world-class designed skate park. It's not a mass of concrete, which was the last thing we wanted for Lake Cathie."
The finished work features a skate bowl, steps, rails, boxes and a pump track.
Mr Fullbrook said 18-year-old skater Nelson Gregory will be the first to test the track on March 15.
The park is scheduled for an official opening by Mayor Peta Pinson and Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams on Monday.
Mr Gregory, a Bonny Hills skater of five years, said he became involved with the advocacy group around half a decade ago to understand the approval process and promote skating in Lake Cathie.
"I think that it's awesome that we could come together and get it done. It's definitely one of the better skate parks in this area for sure," Mr Gregory said.
"I know that residents like Mick were campaigning from the beginning. There were people who were very helpful in council but there were also processes that were painfully slow."
Construction is being completed by Convic Pty Ltd, who were awarded the contract on July 15, 2020.
The $613,000 project was made possible with $301,000 from a state government Stronger Communities Fund grant awarded to the Lake Cathie-Bonny Hills Lions Club and $312,000 contributed by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
The free family fun day is being hosted by the Lake Cathie Skate and Rec Park, Inner Vision Surf Skate, Alley-Oop Skateboard Coaching and the Lake Cathie-Bonny Hills Lions Club.
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