Council calls for NSW Government to take over Olympic velodrome
The future of Canterbury Bankstown’s sole relict from the 2000 Sydney Olympics is back in the spotlight as the council says it cannot afford to run it when the lease expires in two months.
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The future of the 2000 Olympic cycling venue, the Dunc Gray Velodrome at Bankstown, is up in the air again with the Canterbury Bankstown Council saying the NSW government needs to take over its running when Bankstown Sports Club’s lease expires in May.
This is not the first time the future of the velodrome — which provides training for many national and international champions — is at stake with the council repeatedly calling for government commitment to maintain the only Olympic venue in the area.
Mayor Khal Asfour, in his Mayoral minute at the council’s first meeting of the year on Tuesday, February 26, said both the Liberal and Labor parties should confirm their backing of the velodrome, if they are elected at the March 23 elections.
NSW Office of Sport told the Express they are working with the council and Cycling NSW regarding its future.
“The group is considering a range of options for the velodrome within the Crest Sporting Precinct that will ensure it remains a viable sporting facility,” a NSW Office of Sport spokesman said.
Cr Asfour said annual running of the velodrome, which is used by Cycling NSW, works out to around $500,000 to $1 million and he did not want the ratepayers to bear the burden.
The worse case scenario could be the shutting down of the velodrome, which will be a killer blow to cycling and future Olympic champions.
“As previously reported to council, the lease of the Dunc Gray Velodrome to Bankstown
District Sports Club, is scheduled to expire this year,” Cr Asfor said in his Mayoral Minute.
“At that time, it will become council’s responsibility.
“Council has identified significant cost implications associated with both the ongoing
operations and immediate capital upgrades which are beyond council’s ability to fund and
are for provision of an international velodrome for the State of NSW, with little direct and
tangible benefit for the majority of residents in our local community.
“This is not a local community facility.
“I recently met with the NSW Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres, who acknowledged that the
NSW Government has an obligation to take on this Olympic legacy, as it has done with many
other facilities purpose-built for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
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“While it is encouraging that the Office of Sport has worked closely with council, and there is some level of agreement on what arrangements could be put in place, given the timing in
the electoral cycle there has not been any formal commitment from the NSW Government.”
Cr Asfour wants the Labor and Liberal leaders, if elected to commit that, they will invest the necessary funds to upgrade and operate the Dunc Gray Velodrome, which could also host other sports.
“It is important, some level of certainty is provided from whoever is elected, to ensure this state-significant facility is adequately funded and our ratepayers are not burdened with the responsibility, or forced to close what was once a major sporting asset, supporting our Olympic heroes and aspiring cycling champions,” Cr Asfour said.
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