Fears Dunc Gray Velodrome could become another white elephant

THE Canterbury-Bankstown Council is looking at the future of the Olympic venue, the Dunc Gray Velodrome. It says the State won’t fund the venue and events there have reduced.

Dunc Gray Velodrome could become another Olympic remnant.

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A REPORT was commissioned by Canterbury-Bankstown administrator Richard Colley last week to “consider the options” of the Olympic Game’s Dunc Gray Velodrome’s future.

Canterbury-Bankstown Council was set to take back control of the venue — which costs $500,000 a year to run — from Bankstown Sports Club in 2019.

But the council has indicated that events hosted at the velodrome have “diminished significantly” with only four paying clients over the past 12 months.

There is also believed to be a raft of upgrades which will be needed in 2019, at a cost of $4 million.

Chief executive of Cycling NSW, Phil Ayres, however said it is critical that the Dunc Gray venue, the only world approved indoor velodrome in NSW, doesn’t become another white elephant.

“This velodrome is absolutely an integral part of our cycling infrastructure,” Mr Ayres said.

“Aspiring athletes train here on a daily basis. It’s important we have this world class velodrome for our many and emerging elite athletes as well as club-level riders.

“If we don’t have an indoor velodrome in this state, track cycling will die.”

Scott McGrory and Brett Aitken celebrate winning gold in the madison at Dunc Gray Velodrome in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Despite a number of formal approaches, council has said there has been no commitment from the NSW Government for any funding for the facility.

Bankstown Sports Club has indicated it will not be looking to extend its lease but have applied to sublease the former Handle Bar Tavern for a new restaurant.

Mr Ayres said he was would like to create a dialogue with council in order to preserve the “legacy piece of infrastructure”.

“We understand that council have responsibilities to ratepayers, but as a collective between State Government, Cycling NSW and (Canterbury Bankstown) council, we need to come up with an outcome so these kids and their Olympic dreams can continue.”

The velodrome was named in honour of the late Dunc Gray who won Australia’s first Olympic gold medal in cycling at Los Angeles in 1932.

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