Riders from Tamworth City BMX Club are expected to be back on their bikes at the North Tamworth track next year following a $500,000 grant from the Australian Government to remediate and upgrade the facility.
The Marius Street track has not been in use since non-friable asbestos was found on the site earlier this year.
Tamworth Region Mayor Col Murray said it is great news to have the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program funding to now move forward with remediating and upgrading the site.
“The grant not only provides the funding solution for remediating the Tamworth BMX Track of asbestos contamination but also upgrading it to a standard where it can host State and National events,” he said.
Federal Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said it’s pleasing to know the club will be able to come back to an improved facility which will help the club to grow.
“We want to get the local riders back on their bikes at their track and also help provide economic development opportunities to the region by providing a facility able to host top level events which become an attraction,” he said.
“This is what the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program is about – supporting local councils across Australia deliver priority projects, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I know the total $6,064,893 in funding Tamworth Regional Council will receive though the two rounds of the program will be put to good use for the local community.”
Cr Murray said there are 13 projects worth $2.6 million in Tamworth, Attunga, Somerton, Manilla, Barraba and Kootingal using the funding and will be completed by the middle of 2021.
“We are working to finalise the projects to make use of the further $3.4 million we received as part of last month’s Federal Budget.”
Construction for the Tamworth BMX Track project will start next year following strict environmental approvals and detailed design plans with the aim to have the project completed by mid 2021. Work will involve removing the contaminated surface soil and reshaping the track before topping it with 100mm of clean fill. A 100mm capping of crushed granite sand will be applied to track surface and will then be treated with a liquid application seal it and create a high standard track.
The club has been using the Tamworth Regional Cycling Centre at the Tamworth Sporting and Entertainment Precinct while the Marius Street track has been out of use.
