New international BMX track at O’Halloran Hill could cost “millions” more than $3.5 million budget

IT’S estimated it could cost “millions” more than the $3.5m first anticipated to set up a new international-standard BMX centre in Adelaide. There is one thing that wasn’t factored in.

A NEW international-standard BMX centre may cost “millions more” than expected, following the discovery its earmarked site is packed with clay four metres deep.

Work on the planned $3.5 million track and clubroom at O’Halloran Hill was due to start in the middle of this year, but Mayor Kris Hanna said Marion Council would now need to consider how to fund an expected budget blowout.

“The risk is that the expansive nature of the clay will literally move the track up and down, which would obviously cause a hazard for BMX riders,” he said.

“We’ll probably have to literally scrape out tonnes and tonnes of mud and put down a firm base and put the track on top of that.”

Investigations found the clay could move by as much as a metre each year.

Staff are preparing a revised cost estimate for work at the Majors Rd site, which is part of the O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park.

“It could cost millions more,” Mr Hanna said.

Mayor Kris Hanna is warning Marion Council will need to consider how to fund an expected budget blowout due to 4m deep clay.

With other major sports projects planned, he said finding extra money within the council’s budget for the BMX centre would be difficult.

The council is also planning a $8m upgrade at Edwardstown Oval and a $20m overhaul of Mitchell Park Sports and Community Centre.

Mr Hanna said the findings may mean the project needs to be delayed, but did not know by how long. It was also too early to say where the extra funding would come from, he said.

The Sam Willoughby International BMX Track was to be funded with $750,000 each from Marion and Onkaparinga councils, and $2 million from the State Government.

It would be shared by Olympian Sam Willoughby’s two former clubs – The Cove and Happy Valley – and used to host competitions.

Willoughby is recovering in the US after breaking his neck in a training crash in September.

BMX Australia board member Darren Alomes said while the riding community wanted to see the new track built “ASAP”, he was still positive about the project’s future.

“If the delay gives us time for the clubs to seek more funding for infrastructure around the facility, that’s a positive as well,” he said.

“And coming into winter, there was always the possibility that the start of it would be delayed.”

Mr Alomes, whose son 12-year-old son Declan rides for Happy Valley, said once funding was finalised, the track would take about four to six months to build.

He said the new BMX hub would allow the local clubs to host international events, and also give elite riders a better venue for training.

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