He among other youths had grown frustrated with the facility behind the library due to its outdated design, vulnerability to vandalism and lack of public toilets.

Mr Boucher, 23, works as a bartender these days but still rides his board.

He welcomed the new Boomerang Park facility.

“I was told it was going to be built at last but I almost didn’t believe it,” he said.

“They had talked about it for a long time.”

Related reading:

Boomerang skate park opens

Trees make way for skate park

Twice the fun with skate parks

The Facebook page, Skate & Relocate, formed part of a joint effort to move facilities nearer to public toilets at Boomerang Park. That’s where the video came in.

“I was involved in this youth group that came up with the idea,” he said.

“I went to the council chambers and showed them the video.”

Mr Boucher said the new facility offers something for everyone, from beginners to the more advanced. It even includes a bowl which skaters would otherwise have to travel to Newcastle or Wallalong to see.

“The flow’s good, just the general layout of it,” Mr Boucher said.

“It’s different having that bowl. But it’s really good that we’ve got the amenities here and it’s more communal area that will encourage others to come and use it.”

During the interview Mr Boucher paused to give a young skater a hand onto the ramp. He said the social aspect was important to him.

“I see more and more young people that used to get into trouble, down here skating and scooting, instead of the bad things they used to,” he said.

Meanwhile Port Stephens Council has all but put the finishing touches on the Lakeside facility it will officially open in December. Between this and the Boomerang Park skate park, Mr Boucher said things were looking up.

“Now that council done this we can hope they will listen to us in the future,” he said.