A concrete slab has been poured next to the Youthie for Coledale’s new basketball court, which will be marked in early January.

The excavations have also been completed for the playground equipment that will be installed next to the courts.

The basketball hoops and backboards, as well as the playground equipment, have been delivered to Tamworth and will be installed in the second week of January.

The $200,000 project is expected to be ready for use by the end of January.

On the other side of town, the ball is beginning to roll on the Viaduct Park Youth Recreation Hub.

The $1.7 million development will include a skate bowl, plaza-style skate area, an elevated stage platform with a judging area, a barbeque with sheltered spaces and LED lighting.

Preliminary works are underway in preparation for construction, which will start in the new year. Tree stumps have been removed while drainage work has started.

The project is expect to take about four months to complete, with construction to get underway in early January.

Tamworth council said the development, which was designed based off community feedback, aimed to create a “new contemporary multi-generational space” that catered to a range of recreation and social opportunities for young people, families and the Tamworth community.

It’ll also be used as a tourist attraction.

The facility will be the only one of its kind in the New England North West, and it’s hoped it will meet the standards to attract regional skating competition events.

Tamworth Regional Council mayor Col Murray said the development was part of a bigger picture for the area, which over time would be “developed into a significant space for the youth of the city”.

“This is a really exciting time for the youth in our city, we have heard loud and clear that they need better facilities,” he said. 

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