Council clashes continue over plans for a velodrome at Bagot Park | NT Independent

Council clashes continue over plans for a velodrome at Bagot Park

by | Aug 28, 2020 | News | 2 comments

By Roxanne Fitzgerald

Long awaited plans for a multi-million dollar velodrome at Bagot Park have effectively been scrapped as Darwin Council deals with community groups at odds and accusations of miscommunication.

Cycling NT wants a state-of-the-art velodrome to replace the existing one sitting in a state of disrepair at the park.

And a group of concerned residents, Friends of Bagot Park, spearheaded by Cynthia Last, say they want open parkland space, with better parking.

While the groups may disagree on what the area should look like, they agree their views have not been heard by the council, and much more work is needed to ensure there is not a repeat of the infamous sloping tennis courts at Marrara.

At this week’s council meeting, Chair of NT Cycling Megan Lawton said despite the lack of communication, she was still willing to work with the council to deliver the best possible cycling infrastructure at the park.

Raising fears over the lack of community consultation, she said she was concerned the council would deliver a project akin to the “sloping tennis courts” not up to Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) standards.

Following the meeting she said it is unlikely the council has the capacity to carry out the required community consultation.

“This kind of money isn’t going to come around again in my lifetime, if we are going to build a velodrome, let’s do it properly,” she said.

“Right now, the Territory cant attract people for races… Cycling Australia has made it clear if we had a venue, cyclists would come.”

One-time $10.5 million project now only has $2.5 million left on the table – maybe

What started out as a $1.5 million NT Government grant about five years ago to fix the existing velodrome at Bagot Park, soon ballooned to $10.5 million, as Cycling NT lobbied hard for the funds.

But in June of this year, the NTG wrote a letter to the council requesting $8 million be returned. The NT Independent understands the money has not yet been officially returned.

But Ms Lawton and Cycling NT chief executive Mark Heath say they are working on the assumption the NTG money is no longer available.

Mr Heath is a little more frank in his outlook on a working relationship with the council.

As it stands things are not looking good… We are happy to work with council, but I no longer see the point.

“It has been five years, and as a board we have agreed to look at other options to get a velodrome, the only issue is council still holds the remaining $2.5 million.”

He said Cycling NT wants infrastructure to produce Olympians, but the only way to make that a reality is with a purpose-built facility.

Refuting any claims of communication pitfalls, at the Tuesday meeting, Darwin Council CEO Scott Waters said hands are tied until the NT Government is out of caretaker mode on September 7.

He suggested Marrara would be a more suitable area for a new velodrome, as it would absolutely dominateBagot Park.

Back to the drawing board

It is now back to the drawing board for council officers and councillors who are deliberating how to spend the remaining $2.5 million, working towards a new scope for Bagot Park.

In regards to the existing velodrome, council would “make it safe there are lights there in disrepair, we would bring them up to standard, and if there was the ability to have the track resurfaced we would do that,” Mr Waters said.

“It is a shame that those who have a particular talent in this sport do need to go and have the rest of their career pursued [outside the Territory].”

Mr Waters added that council has consulted with the community and would continue to work on a new scope.

“The issue we faced is the (NT Government) funding was significant and it altered what was originally resolved and agreed upon by council and stakeholders at that time,” he said.

He added the original agreement included a 250 metre velodrome, 30-35 degree banks made out of concrete, a bike skills area, a pump track and lights.

“With the funding that is available, what would be delivered is a very good standard club track,” he said.

Councillors are expected to make a decision soon.

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2 Comments

  1. Good on you NTG. Another fantastic idea beaten to death by politics and bullcrap. This will no doubt be added to the long, long list of fantastic opportunities to be squandered on “consulting fees” such as the recent new water park idea (YES. FINALLY SOMETHING WE CAN DO 365 DAYS A YEAR), swimming beach (in the sea? who’d have thought? YES PLEASE). I’ll ignore the brigdge to Mandorah and Nightcliff island (soon to be swampy beach after the first strorm) as minor brain farts.

  2. WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU SPEND MONEY ON A GOD DAMN VELODROME IN DARWIN. 70% of Darwin’s cash flow comes from Canberra. Wasters! What about industry and job creation? What about a beach we can swim in? What about going for a jog? I’m sick of these clowns who think dressing up in lunchbox leotards and a helmet makes them interesting. Ummm, no, you play with a child’s toy French peasants turned into a mode of transport out of necessity! Now you pay three thousand bucks for a push bike. Its not intelligent. It’s dumb! STOP WASTING TAXPAYERS MONEY. The same with the V8 mob. They go to watch gas-guzzling machines then vote for the environment. Hypocrites!

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