Balfour youngsters are ‘‘wheelie’’ excited about a new pump track in the town.
Southland Mayor Rob Scott opened the track on Saturday in front of a crowd of about 200.
The Balfour Lions Club project cost about $100,000.
In September last year, Ardlussa Community Board members approved the project and a grant of $80,000 to go towards the cost of the build from the Balfour reserve fund.
The Lions Club funded the difference.
It was agreed once the track was built ownership would pass to the Southland District Council, which is responsible for the children’s playground and public toilets nearby.
The track was made by professional track builders Graded Earth Ltd and took about three weeks.
Beauden Stewart, of Balfour, rode his bike on the track.
‘‘It has quite a few pumps and it’s really fun,’’ he said.
At first it was hard figuring out how to ride the track but with practice he improved.
It was a good facility for the town because it would encourage children to get outdoors, he said.
‘‘It gets lots of kids attracted to it so they don’t [use] technology all the time and they’ll have fun on it.’’
Riley Duff (8), of Balfour, who rode his scooter on the track, said it was ‘‘awesome’’.
‘‘It’s slower than a bike but you can do better tricks without falling off.’’
Lions Club president John van Vliet said he was very impressed with the track.
‘‘It’s beautiful. You just want to be a kid again if you see these kids flying over there.’’
He was planning on riding the track when there were not too many others on it.
Community board chairman Richard Clarkson said the community had led the project and the board backed it.
‘‘It was felt it was a good project for the township.’’
A half-sized basketball court would also be built nearby.
