Cycling desperate for lifeline from the winner of next month’s Federal election

A re-elected Albanese government will bail out the Sydney Olympic velodrome and provide $2.5 million for upgrades after cycling bosses pleaded for support from both major parties. Without the funding package, the facility will close and leave NSW as the only state in Australia without an indoor velodrome.

The Albanese Government has promised a $2.5 million rescue package for the iconic cycling venue that witnessed Olympic gold for Australia at the 2000 Sydney Games, if Labor is returned to power.

The Dunc Gray velodrome is just months away from closing unless a funding lifeline is delivered for upgrades that will ensure its viability.

AusCycling and the Australian Olympic Committee made a public plea on Monday to both major parties, requesting support for the facility ahead of next month’s federal election.

Hours later, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke - whose electorate of Watson houses the velodrome - confirmed Federal Labor would stump up the cash.

Sydney Olympic gold medallist Scott McGrory with Illawarra cyclists James Allen, 14, and Lucy Allen, 15, who is a member of the NSW under-17 team and travels from the Illawarra region to train at Dunc Gray Velodrome. Picture: Monique Harmer

“A re-elected Albanese Government will save the velodrome,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

As revealed exclusively in The Sunday Telegraph, the Dunc Gray facility – the only indoor velodrome in the state – has failed to secure funding from the NSW Government and will have to shut its doors without an eleventh hour bail out.

If the velodrome is closed, NSW will be the only state in Australia without an indoor track. Cycling bosses warn the fallout would see our next generation of stars either quit the sport or move interstate.

A teenage Australian champion fears her Olympic dreams - and those of other emerging riders - will be crushed unless the next Federal Government commits to saving the facility.

Lucy Allen, 15, is the innocent face of the looming NSW sporting embarrassment.

A member of the NSW under-17 team, she travels from the Illawarra region to train at Dunc Gray. Her sights are set on the Brisbane 2032 Olympics when she will be 22-years-old and “in my prime”. But Lucy will reconsider her future if the velodrome closes down.

“People come from everywhere to train here – Central Coast, Wagga, Canberra and Cootamundra – and you need to do that if you want to improve your performance,” she said. “It’s the only indoor velodrome in the state. I probably wouldn’t be able to continue in track cycling if it wasn’t here.”

AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner said “without infrastructure or facilities, we’re effectively telling our kids … go interstate or leave the sport”, adding it “beggars belief” an Olympic venue of such importance could be killed off.

Cyclists Ross Bowlers and Paul Simon training at Dunc Gray Velodrome. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Privately, the cycling community is dismayed that a $2.5m ask pales in comparison with the $20m it would take just to demolish an unused velodrome, or the $40m government handout announced last week for the Canterbury Bulldogs to build a centre of excellence.

AOC CEO elect Mark Arbib said the $2.5m funding request was “not a sugar hit, it’s about keeping a facility in place for the long term...what we’re asking the Federal Government and the Federal Opposition for is funding to make that possible.”

AusCycling CEO Marne Fechner said “without infrastructure or facilities, we’re effectively telling our kids … go interstate or leave the sport.” Picture: Monique Harmer

AOC CEO elect Mark Arbib believes keeping Dunc Gray Velodrome in place for the long term must be a priority . Picture: Monique Harmer

AusCycling says the funding would primarily go to a sprung floor for the centre of the velodrome, allowing other sports to hire the facility and create revenues to offset ongoing expenses.

Those already interested in taking up co-residence include volleyball, judo, pickleball, skate sports, athletics, badminton and wheelchair sports.

Sydney Olympics cycling gold medallist Scott McGrory said: “It really does sadden me to have to be pleading to government to keep this wonderful facility going. It is venues like this that we must have if we’re going to give opportunities to the next generation.”

Originally published as Cycling desperate for lifeline from the winner of next month’s Federal election