Youth in the area are a step closer to an upgrade of the Australind Skate Park after the Harvey Shire Council employed the services of A Balanced View leisure consultancy service to conduct a needs analysis and feasibility study.

Picture: Cr Greg Campbell, Harvey Shire community development officer Caris Gibson, Convic business operations manager Steve Kassab and skate park designer Ilya Kozlov, rear, discuss the park with youth committee members Tayler Lewis, Nigel Heidt and A Balanced View consultant Gavin Fialkowski.

Consultant Gavin Fialkowski, together with Convic business operations manager Steve Kassab and skate park designer Ilya Kozlov met with skate park steering committee members recently as part of the consultation process.

A petition with more than 400 signatures asking for better skate park facilities in Australind was submitted to the Harvey Shire last November and more than 150 young people have been surveyed.

The council had allocated $50,000 towards the project including $30,000 for the needs analysis and feasibility study.

The steering committee consists of three councillors, three shire employees and three community representatives.

Scooter rider Nigel Heidt and skateboarder Tayler Lewis, both aged 12 years, are the youngest committee members representing their peers.

Mr Fialkowski said it was a substantial project that needed a good plan to attract funding and his consultancy company would prepare a concept plan and costing for the Harvey Shire Council as a first step.

If this was approved by the shire, a more detailed plan would follow.

‘‘We research the demographics of the area and compare it with other skate parks for the needs analysis,’’ he said.

‘‘Consultation is a very important part of the process and we encourage young people and their parents to fill in the survey on the shire’s website.’’

Convic skatepark designer Ilya Kozlov presented photographs of skate parks to the committee and asked for suggestions which specific equipment was favoured.