NSW Office of Sport to end management agreement for Dunc Gray Velodrome
The state government has decided against renewing an agreement to manage a $42m elite sporting facility in Sydney’s southwest, adding to fears the local council will be forced to close the Olympic venue.
The Express
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The state government has decided against renewing an agreement to manage a $42m elite sporting facility in Sydney’s southwest, adding to fears the local council will be forced to close the Olympic venue.
The Office of Sport confirmed on Wednesday it would end its agreement with the Canterbury-Bankstown Council, under which it manages the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Bass Hill, when the current contract expires in March next year.
The decision means the council will become solely responsible for the operation, maintenance and upkeep of the facility on April 1.
But with the council not prepared to foot bills currently covered by the government, the venue’s days appear numbered.
“The future of the velodrome is very much up in the air as council relies on funding from the government to operate this state-significant infrastructure,” a council spokesperson said.
“This facility was built for elite athletes to train and compete in the 2000 Olympics and beyond.
“It is unreasonable to expect the ratepayers of Canterbury-Bankstown to foot the bill for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility.”
The velodrome, an indoor cycling track, was built in 1999 ahead of the Sydney Olympics the following year.
Since then, the track has been used for training and state competitions.
However, AusCycling said months of uncertainty surrounding the future of the velodrome had left elite and emerging athletes in limbo, with the NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) announcing in November it would end its track cycling program.
“It now appears the NSW Government has decided to abandon responsibility for the velodrome,” AusCycling previously said.
“Unfortunately, this uncertainty means the NSWIS track program will be wound up and the state’s best able and para track athletes may be left without a training venue or an elite program less than four years out from the Los Angeles Games and eight years from a home Olympics.”
The council spokesperson said the local government body had attempted on “numerous occasions” to secure future state funding for the velodrome without success.
“We will continue to lobby the government about the sites future and the potential for it to be transformed into open space for the entire community to enjoy,” they said.
In a statement, the Office of Sport said any decisions about the future of the venue would be a matter for the council.
The NSW Institute of Sport is working with AusCycling to continue a cycling program focusing on road riding and mountain biking disciplines, while support for BMX athletes will be maintained through the “individual athlete program”.
On Wednesday afternoon, the official link for the Dunc Gray Velodrome on the NSW Office of Sport’s website was no longer accessible.
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