Pin pulled on BMX hub

THE future of BMX on the Gold Coast has suffered a serious blow with the national centre for excellence shelved before the program even got off the deck.

BMX Australia yesterday pulled out of plans to build a multi-million dollar training facility for Olympians at the motocross centre in Reedy Creek. The international standard facility was scrapped after a new board took over BMX Australia and determined another world-class track was not needed.

BMX already has four tracks suitable for international competitions, including the Sleeman Sports Complex in Brisbane.

The Reedy Creek facility was also intended to be an exclusive training centre for future Olympians.

BMX Australia chief executive Martin Shaw said there was no need for a dedicated track for the elite in the sport.

“A majority are based outside of the country in the USA,” he said.

Mr Shaw said this was due to more competitions and opportunities overseas.

He said there were elite level training facilities in each state in the country.

Gold Coast City Council had jumped on board the plans and provided $1 million in funding to help the new training facility get off the ground.

Council’s Economic Development and Major Projects Committee chairman Hermann Vorster said council had been blindsided by the decision.

“This announcement was a complete surprise and pretty disappointing given the financial investment we had made,” he said.

Cr Vorster said the money set aside for the project would be put back into the council budget or divided among other projects.

He said he was concerned about the future of the sport in the city.

“It’s very disappointing for the next crop of young Gold Coasters (involved in BMX),” he said.

“They have been sold a promising future and with one media release it’s been snatched away.”

Ashmore BMX Club president Angelo Lauro said he supported the decision to scrap the proposed training facility.

“I think between the two clubs and our tracks we have enough here,” he said.

Mr Lauro said while demand for the sport was growing a new track in the northern part of the city was not needed.

He said if a new track were to be built the demand was in the south at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.