Canterbury Bankstown Council pushes for funding for Bass Hill’s Dunc Gray Velodrome
For five days, Dunc Gray Velodrome was home to the world’s top cyclists at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Now, 23 years on, the push is on to return the venue to its former glory.
The Express
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A fresh push to save Bass Hill’s Dunc Gray Velodrome - a legacy of the Sydney Olympics - is on with Canterbury Bankstown mayor Khal Asfour to call on the recently-elected Labor state government to inject much-needed funds.
The velodrome has been a burden for ratepayers in recent years, with millions of dollars of refurbishments required for the venue to host international events once more.
Five years ago, the facility was costing ratepayers in the Canterbury-Bankstown area $420,000 annually.
The venue is the only indoor velodrome in NSW and is the home base for AusCycling and the major training ground for the Bankstown Cycle Club.
Mayor Khal Asfour will table a mayoral minute at Tuesday night’s council meeting to call on newly elected Sports Minister Steve Kamper for “whatever assistance he can give in relation to funding and the future of the Velodrome site”, noting the site requires a “massive” and “ongoing” annual investment.
“Councillors, with a change of government comes new opportunities, and we must seize the moment to spruik our case for more support,” the mayoral minute states.
Bankstown Cycle Club president Craig Moiler, 61, said he had used the velodrome for 24 years and a funding boost would be a “positive step” for the venue to reach its international potential.
“Upgrades have not been carried out so we have trouble running high level competitions,” he said. “We can still use the velodrome for local and state level competitions but if you wanted an international event, you’d need to upgrade.”
Bankstown Cycle club member David Moiler used the venue during its “prime” in 2003 when numerous races, including five international series, were held.
The 29-year-old said while the venue was built to a high standard for the Olympics, the International Body of Cycling standard of velodromes had changed significantly, with new guidelines for internal fencing and audio-visual equipment.
“It’s the only place we’ve got in NSW and the trouble is if we lose something like that, elite riders have to go interstate to get those facilities,” he said.
Sports Minister Steve Kamper said the velodrome played an important role in the development of the next generation of Australian cyclists.
“The Office of Sport is examining options for the future of the velodrome in consultation with the cycling community, and I am looking forward to receiving that report,” he said.
“In the meantime, the NSW Government will continue to work with the City of Canterbury Bankstown to ensure the velodrome continues to operate.”
Mr Asfour declined to comment before Tuesday night’s council meeting.
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