Sam Willoughby BMX track cracks cost clubs championships

The botched opening of an Olympic-standard BMX track has caused more collateral damage after two southern suburbs clubs lost the right to host a major event.

The botched opening of an Olympic-standard BMX track has caused more collateral damage after two southern suburbs clubs lost the right to host a major event.

Repair works on the $6m Sam Willoughby BMX (SWBMX) track will not be completed in time for the Cove and Happy Valley BMX clubs to host the state championships in October.

It comes after the track was badly damaged amid unprecedented heavy rain in its opening event in January.

Contractors began ripping up the track in late April, with works expected to take around 12 weeks.

Sam Willoughby BMX park at O’Halloran Hill. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

However, Marion City Council chief executive Tony Harrison said the remaining work is expected to be completed later in August.

“Given the weather, the City of Marion has taken the advice of its lead contractor to allow curing time of up to eight weeks for the final coat,” he said.

“This timing will not allow the State BMX Championships on 14-16 October to be held at the track, with the clubs needing to access the track for six weeks prior to the championship.”

The event has now been moved to Gawler with the Cove BMX Club expressing their disappointment in a social media post.

“While we are disappointed the State Championships could not be held at SWBMX this year, we are looking forward to hosting them next year,” the post read.

“Both clubs are working closely with the City of Marion and the builders to see the successful completion and handover of the SWBMX Facility to the clubs in the very near future.”

In February, the council revealed the damage bill for the track was $92,000.

The final costs and insurance claim for the works remained “a commercial-in-confidence matter” which will be discussed at Tuesday night’s council meeting.