Mackay and District BMX Club announces sudden closure of its Walkerston track

The president of Mackay and District BMX says he will be “heartbroken” if the council is unable to help front the costs to upkeep the beloved track. Read what the council had to say.

If Walkerston's BMX track is demolished it would be a significant loss to the community. Picture: Mackay and District BMX Inc Facebook

The president of Mackay and District BMX Club says he will be “heartbroken” if the council is unable to help front the costs to upkeep the beloved track.

It comes after the club was forced to abruptly and “permanently” shut its BMX track at Walkerston, west of Mackay, “effective immediately”.

An email sent to members stated volunteer “fatigue” and increasing maintenance and financial costs as reasons behind the closure.

MAD BMX president Brett Wilson said the track’s start hill had become unsafe.

“(The closure’s) not the outcome we sort of wanted, it’s purely a financial decision really,” Wilson said.

Mini Wheelers lining up at Walkerston's BMX track. Picture: Mackay and District BMX Inc Facebook

“We have been working with the council, at the moment just the (start) hill is going to be closed.”

It means members of the public can still use the rest of the BMX track for the time being, but it will no longer be maintained by the club.

Mr Wilson said they hoped the track could remain open and council could look after it.

“(Otherwise) it’ll probably have to be flattened … I’ll be heartbroken,” he said.

Walkerston's BMX track. Picture: Mackay and District BMX Inc Facebook

Mackay Regional Council Community Services director Janine McKay said they were committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for the Walkerston community and ratepayers.

“Walkerston BMX Club, which has since amalgamated into Mackay and District BMX, has had a lease with council for some time, which allowed them to operate the track in Walkerton at their own cost,” Ms McKay said.

“Unfortunately, the club can no longer justify the costs of the maintaining of the track, which is in need of significant repairs.

“We are currently exploring all the options available in terms of keeping the track open to the public.

“We hope to have a clearer understanding in coming weeks.”

Until the closure, MAD BMX had alternated fortnightly between its Mackay and Walkerston tracks but will now only race from the Mackay site for the foreseeable future.

It comes not long after the Walkerston BMX Club was amalgamated with MAD BMX.

“The club’s plans are to basically build a new track at a new facility, that’s the focus at the moment,” Mr Wilson said, adding they were discussing this with council and exploring possibilities of where to build it.

“The upkeep on the Walkerston facility is getting a bit out of control,” he said.

“There’s been a bit of negative feedback on social media already, but the council are trying to help.”

Just six years ago, the Walkerston BMX track and it’s community was impacted by Tropical Cyclone Debbie’ devastating flooding, which caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage.