Council investigates fresh cracks at Sam Willoughby BMX track as riders search for new home

Two BMX clubs have been left temporarily homeless after their multimillion-dollar track ran into pressure problems yet again.

Large cracks have forced a $6m BMX track in Adelaide’s south to shut for the second time in fewer than five years, leaving its tenants searching for a temporary home and sparking membership concerns.

The Sam Willoughby facility at O’Halloran Hill could remain closed for the next year while Marion Council investigates the cause and repairs are undertaken for the deep, wide crack discovered along the track’s first straight in January.

Sam Willoughby BMX Facility secretary Scott Rouvray said the damage has had a big impact on The Cove and Happy Valley BMX clubs, with the majority of its combined 500 members unable to race or properly train at the facility since the track was deemed unsafe in January.

Riders Nixon Rattigan, 6, Perry Rattigan, 9, George Ellis, 5 and Zara Claughton, 7, at the track. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

The clubs are now seeking the go-ahead from Onkaparinga Council to temporarily return to the BMX track at the Happy Valley Sports Park.

“If we don’t get Happy Valley activated as quickly as possible and re-enable our riders to race locally, we do feel that the long term membership base will dwindle because there’s nowhere for people to compete against each other in the southern suburbs,” Mr Rouvray said.

He added that the facility had to give up hosting the AusCycling National BMX Racing Series in June as a result of the cracking, which has cost them an estimated $25,000 in revenue.

The track has been beset by issues since its official opening in early 2022, with $80,000 spent on repairs since then.

Widespread cracks and ripped bitumen shuttered the track after it hosted the 2022 AusCycling BMX National Series in heavy rain in January of 2022.

Happy Valley and The Cove BMX clubs are looking for a temporary home after the multimillion-dollar international Sam Willoughby track ran into fresh problems. : Naomi Jellicoe

Mr Rouvray said the track sat idle for almost a year before Marion Council and volunteers from both clubs were able to resurfaced the facility.

Minor cracks appeared at the track again last year but Mr Rouvray said they were able to patch those up because they were located at the edges and were shallow.

Mr Rouvray said two of the three berms — banked corners — also had cracking.

The track was built to hold major international events but the raft of issues has meant the facility never received international certification from cycling organisation Union Cycliste Internationale, which would have allowed the site to hold such events.

A Marion spokesperson said council was now working with an external engineer to understand the cause of the cracking.

“The suspected cause of the cracking is a combination of factors including the very dry conditions over the last several months and the soil profile in the affected area,” the spokesperson said.

“A report from the engineer will be provided to council in the coming weeks.

“Repair costs will be determined when the scope of works is finalised. Council will consider costs once these have been determined”.

Onkaparinga Council is now engaging with Happy Valley Sports Park and the two BMX clubs on their temporary return, with a report on the matter to be brought back to council next month.

Originally published as Council investigates fresh cracks at Sam Willoughby BMX track as riders search for new home