Safety fences will go up in the Ashburton Domain over the next two weeks around the pump track and surrounding area that is to become a new bike skills park.

The Tarbotton RideSmart Park will take about three months to build and is being funded by the community, through sponsorship and grants.

Mayor Liz McMillan had the honour of turning the first sod this week, with the aid of a 14 tonne excavator.

“It’s so great to get to this stage of the project after two years of planning. There’s been a passionate group of people involved in the design and fundraising, and I especially want to thank Tarbotton Land & Civil and Tim and his family for coming on board as a major sponsor.”

Other community sponsors, including Ashburton service clubs and local businesses, were also invited to the domain for the sod-turning ceremony.

Tim Tarbotton said his family was thrilled to be involved with the project and was donating earthmoving services and project management.

“We’ve also reached out to our suppliers and clients to help make this a reality, and while it’s been a big few months of hard work we will have a great asset in our community for many generations to come.”

The Mid Canterbury Community Wellbeing and Safety Enhancement Trust has successfully applied for grants from Lottery, the Lion Foundation, and the Mid and South Canterbury Community Trust. Other supporters include Sport Canterbury and local Lion and Rotary service clubs.

Tarbotton RideSmart Park will feature a network of roads, with stop and give way signs; plus there’ll be traffic lights, a railway crossing and a roundabout – all of which cyclists, scooter riders and pedestrians encounter when moving around Ashburton and other urban centres.

It is designed to teach road safety skills to children, young people and adults as they learn how to ride a bike or scooter and to be a destination for families and district visitors.