Having fun and getting active on bikes, scooters and skateboards just got a whole lot easier thanks to 'Tunatuna', a new portable pump track, launched in Bluff yesterday (23 Jul).

About 250 people attended the Bluff launch of the 64m-long modular track.

A collaborative effort between community organisations, councils and funders, the track is destined to be used across Southland over the next 12 months.

The goal is to allow communities to activate under-utilised public and green spaces and bring the community together around riding skateboards, scooters, bicycles.

It will also serve as a template for communities to evaluate the potential impact of a pump track in their community.

It is funded by the Transport Choices package, which is part of the Waka Kotahi Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) programme, with funding also coming from Community Trust South, the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa fund administered by Active Southland, ILT Foundation, Invercargill City Council (ICC) and Southland District Council (SDC).

Cycling Southland owns and will maintain the track, with support from the Southland Mountain Bike Club, Southland BMX Club, and the Southland Triathlon and Multisport Club, while Active Southland’s Healthy Families Invercargill Active Transport Innovator is facilitating the initiative.

Cycling Southland Major Events and Pathways Manager Glen Thomson said the pump track was a great way to provide physical activity opportunities for communities that may not have previously had access to them, and get people interested in cycling, and using scooters and skateboards.

“This pump track has such a great vibe, and it possesses such amazing potential to really bring communities together. We are looking forward to seeing what impact it will have on our region in the future.”

Active Transport Innovator Laura Thompson said it was fantastic to see the track come to life and being enjoyed by the community.

“All along we have been working towards creating an opportunity for our communities to get into their outdoor spaces, get on their bikes, scooters, and skateboards, and have some fun. This track is really going to help connect our communities, help our families enjoy what their community spaces have to offer, and give something new a try. We can’t wait to see how much fun Bluff has with the track, and where else we can bring it in future.”

The track will be based in Bluff for the next two months, before heading to its next location in Nightcaps in September.

Access to pump track on Lee St, Bluff, will be available between 10am and 5pm from Wednesday to Sunday (26-30 Jul).