Million-Dollar Pump Track For Yarra Ranges
Wesburn Park, Victoria
One of Australia’s largest pump track facilities will be developed near the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination, with Yarra Ranges Council preparing to invite tenders to design and construct the pump track.
The council has concept plans to establish the $940,000 pump track at Wesburn Park, which will be on a trail head for the proposed Warburton Mountain Bike Destination.
“It will be one of Australia’s biggest and most comprehensive pump tracks, if not the biggest,” according to the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination’s executive project manager, Matt Harrington.
“It will cater to everyone from beginners to international racers.”
While the proposal to develop the $24 million Warburton Mountain Bike Destination is currently the subject of an Environmental Effects Statement and associated inquiry, Matt said the pump track is certain to proceed.
“It’s funded and planning is well underway,” he said.
He said once consultants are appointed to complete detailed designs, and those documents are in place, the plans will go out for public comment.
The council is also developing a pump track at Coldstream, as a node on the Yarra Valley Rail Trail.
Community consultation was completed in April for the $550,000 pump track, being established as part of a broader upgrade of the 2.7-hectare Coldstream site.
Matt said the medium-sized bitumen pump track will be accompanied by multi-use trials and wetland developments.
“We are refining designs for the pump track and hope to have it in place this financial year,” he stated.
The Yarra Valley Rail Trail’s Stage 2A development is set to be boosted by a $5.4 million injection from the new Federal Labor Government, which pledged the funds during its election campaign.
The building shown on the right hand side, is home of the Upper Yarra Gem Club, as well as a community hall which is hired for events. Take note on how the plans intrude directly onto this community building, as well as how close it is to a children’s park on the left-hand side. The community have not had the opportunity to be involved with these major changes, and risk assessments have not been formerly considered. As always with Yarra Range Council, they develop first, and ignore the problems later.