THE topography of the land earmarked for Bathurst’s new bike park on the Vale Road lends itself perfectly to the construction of the velodrome and future clubhouse.
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Work on stage one of the $5 million project has started, and the marking out of the site, adjacent to The Lagoon turnoff, has revealed the location of some of the facilities and will give residents an idea of how the complex will fit in perfectly with the lay of the land.
Bruce Goddard, from EODO Pty Ltd, which won the contract to build the bike park, said he expected earthworks to get underway in late January.
“The plans are with council as we speak. We’re just waiting on the construction certificate, but I must say council’s engineering and planning staff have done everything they can in expediting that process,” he said.
“At this stage the site has been roughly pegged out after consultation with the bike club and council. Everyone is happy with the design and how it’s going to be located.
“The topography is fantastic. The future clubhouse will look out over the valley and it all forms a natural amphitheatre.”
Mr Goddard said after some research it had been decided the surface of the velodrome would be similar to a track at Coffs Harbour and be surfaced with hot mix asphalt.
“It will be a fast track with banking. It’s about as fast as you can get for an outdoor facility. It will measure exactly one-third of a kilometre, which lends itself to a three-lap race over one kilometre,” he said.
Stage one of the project includes the velodrome and the delivery of power, water, sewer and lighting.
At the same time the cycle club has started mapping out the mountain bike track, but this process does not involve EODO.
Councillor Greg Westman said stage one would cost $1.28 million.
“We now have a better of idea of what’s going to happen out there and the oval shape of the track,” he said. “With a bit of cut and fill the clubhouse will fit nicely into the side of the hill, with the track on the flat.
Cr Westman said an education centre would be located in the centre of the velodrome.
“It’s a teaching facility which is a bit like a mini roadway where handling skills and road safety can be taught to juniors as well as being available to the schools,” he said.