International standard BMX track may be moved south from O’Halloran Hill after cost blowouts

AN INTERNATIONAL standard BMX track could be built in Noarlunga instead of Marion with the cost jumping to $6 million.

• Southern BMX track funded in 2016 State Budget
• New international BMX track could cost “millions” more than planned

AN INTERNATIONAL standard BMX track could be built in the Onkaparinga district instead of Marion after the project was plagued by cost blowouts.

Marion Council is considering ditching its plan to build the track on the northern side of Majors Rd, at O’Halloran Hill, after its cost jumped from $3.5 million to $6 million.

The council is now investigating building a new home for The Cove and Happy Valley BMX clubs at the Southern Sporting Complex, in Noarlunga Downs which is in Onkaparinga Council, or on the southern side of Majors Rd, also at O’Halloran Hill.

It comes after the State Government asked the council to find two new potential locations for the track because the original site, which falls into the O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park, was packed with clay which would need to be removed.

Marion Mayor Kris Hanna said the cost of building at the two new sites “had not been fully explored”.

“It is a matter of either working out can we do it smarter and economically at (the original site), or do we need to work with the City of Onkaparinga for a more suitable location,” Mr Hanna said.

“We need to look at the costs of the Majors Rd sites and the advantages and disadvantages of the site at Onkaparinga.”

BMX riders Joel and Rayna at the Hallett Cove track. Source: File

Cr Nick Westwood told a committee meeting last week the track should remain in the Marion Council area.

“The reason I think it should be located around the Majors Rd area is because it is so central and there is transport,” Cr Westwood said.

Marion Council has allocated $750,000 towards the project, matched by Onkaparinga Council, and the State Government has committed $2 million.

Under the plan, the track would be shared by Olympian Sam Willoughby’s two former clubs – The Cove and Happy Valley – and used to host competitions.

It would be named the Sam Willoughby International BMX track.

A Marion Council spokesman said investigations into the alternate sites would end next month.

“The investigations at these alternative sites are to determine any cost benefits,” the spokesman said.

A council report said work on the new track was supposed to start at the end of this year, but committee chairwoman Janet Byram said it was now unlikely to start before September 2018.