Cycling precinct dream not abandoned yet

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The dream of a multi-million dollar cycling precinct in Warragul has been slashed.

However, a glimmer of hope remains for a scaled-down project.

A feasibility study presented to a recent Baw Baw Shire Council meeting identified the Logan Park site as unsuitable for the proposed Cycling Centre of Excellence.

Despite an officer recommendation to abandon the project, councillors unanimously opted to investigate a staged project or other sites.

Councillors previously deferred the matter following a last gasp passionate plea from key contributor Karin Jones.

Cr Peter Kostos said his alternative motion would “keep it alive”.

Cr Danny Goss said it was a sad situation as “so many people had so much invested.”

“But this very detailed feasibility study...basically came to the conclusion it was too difficult in the end to build as it was,” Cr Goss said.

The feasibility study found the Logan Park site was flood prone; had insufficient wetland area for stormwater treatment; carried Indigenous cultural heritage constraints; supported several threatened species such as Flinders Pygmy Perch and Warragul Burrowing Crayfish; and contained some contamination.

Whilst noting development of this site into a cycling facility was highly desirable, the report said “the site conditions are not ideal”.

“In parts unstable and in other parts remediation of contaminated soil would be required,” it said.

Council has invested $125,000 for planning and design of the Cycling Centre of Excellence masterplan to build off the current velodrome in Alfred St. This was allocated in the 2021/22 budget.

The cost of the project, incorporating a criterium circuit, BMX track and cyclo-cross course, pump track, expanded cycling club building and new clubrooms, had escalated to $24.3 million, according to the officer report.

Council forecast $21.1 million in its Long-Term Infrastructure Project (LTIP) list - $13.4 million in 2024/25, $3.7 million in 2025/26 and $3 million in 2026/27.

Of this, $13.4 million was unsecured external funding. The remaining $6.7 million would come from council borrowings.

“Capital budget forecast allocations in the LTIP are insufficient to deliver the scope through to practical completion,” the officer report said.

The feasibility study calculated the precinct would have an average of 7641 annual visitors, $11,015 annual revenue, $23,807 annual expenditure, and $44,000 annual asset renewal.

Using these averages, the study projected the facility would operate at a loss of $567,920 over its first 10 years.

Cr Kostos urged councillors to support his alternative motion to investigate other options, with priority to provide pump track facilities, BMX facilities and criterium track for Baw Baw residents.

He said the improved cycling facilities could be located at Logan Park or another location.

Cr Kostos said he didn’t want all the project information lost after spending $100,000 to gain it.

Acknowledging there were good reasons to disband the project, he hoped some aspects could still go ahead.

“This report is to keep it going,” Cr Kostos concluded. “Potentially bring it in in stages, or at least a pump track or BMX facilities, somewhere down the track.”

Cr Goss said it was “disappointing news for so many in our community” that was “made worse by lack of consultation”.

Cr Goss said many people had “worked hard on this dream” but there was no state government support despite council identifying the precinct as a top four advocacy project.

“Cycling is an important sport and is becoming more popular,’ he said.

“As a council, we need to try to do the difficult things as well as doing the easy things. This is difficult, I understand that.

“And I support this project and I’d like to see something come to fruition,” Cr Goss said.

Cr Keith Cook said the precinct plans were exciting and worth hanging onto. “Young people want to use facilities like these,” Cr Cook said in explaining pump tracks and BMX offerings.

He put forth the old pony club site within Bellbird Park in Drouin as an alternative location.

“You need to have it, in my mind, near a larger population where that facility will get used a fair bit,” Cr Cook said.