A MAJOR hurdle for bringing human-powered vehicle racing to Orange is set to disappear, with $300,000 to build a track set aside in Orange City Council’s draft budget.
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Mayor John Davis said the money would widen the existing cycleway and walking paths around Gosling Creek reserve.
“As well as making the track wider to handle the race craft, the upgrade will benefit cyclists and could make Gosling Creek a venue for other bicycle races,” he said.
HPVs are tricycles built into aerodynamic shells and average up to 45km/h.
NSW HPV Racing Committee public officer David de Bruyn said the news was “fantastic”.
“I had been told it probably would be [in the draft], but nothing had been set,” he said.
“We are very excited about it.”
Mr de Bruyn said the allocation would be enough to cover the project, which has been costed at $245,000 for the preferred route or $208,000 for the secondary route.
“[The preferred route] gives us a closed circuit within Gosling Creek reserve, whereas the other route uses part of Bloomfield Road - by not using Bloomfield Road, we can train during the week,” he said.
Orange is already expected to have four teams, with Canobolas Rural Technology High School, James Sheahan Catholic High School and Kinross Wolaroi School on board.
“It’s been really good for the schools to come together and collectively get this over the line, they’re very keen,” Mr de Bruyn said.
Mr de Bruyn said Orange would be the first in NSW to host a HPV race, which he hoped could be held in March next year.
He hoped races could be established in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong in the coming years, with Orange developing into a 24-hour event.
An extra $75,000 would be required to stage a race in Orange and the council is seeking about $100,000 in government funding to reduce its net contribution.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au
