A 508-metre circuit at Byron Bay’s Cavanbah Centre is about to be transformed into a 1km multi-use competition-grade cycle and running track thanks to a $250,000 grant from the Australian Government’s Community Sport Infrastructure Fund, that was awarded to the Byron Bay Cycle Club in 2019.
The upgrade will make it the only 1km purpose-built cycling facility in the region and is expected to be a big draw card for local cycling criterium races and events, coaching, triathlon events and rehabilitation services. The new circuit also doubles as an exciting ‘learn to ride’ space for local children, who can use sections of the track to learn to ride safely away from traffic. Upgrade works are due to start on Monday 27 July and are estimated to take around four weeks to complete, weather permitting.
Council’s Director Infrastructure Services, Phil Holloway, congratulated the Byron Bay Cycle Club for its grant win and for the excellent range of benefits the new multi-use track will bring to the region. “The Byron Bay Cycle Club developed a vision for this track many years ago and members worked so hard to get the funding and deliver it on Council land for community use,” Mr Holloway said. “Council has supported the Club’s vision for this exciting multi-use track and is now providing oversight of construction and ongoing management and maintenance of the track.
“This is another great example of Council working together with community groups to achieve these excellent outcomes,” he said.
Byron Bay Cycle Club’s Deb Fuller, said she was looking forward to seeing the Club’s vision realised in coming months. “The best thing about this project is that it is transforming what is an under-utilised circuit into something with multiple uses that the whole community can benefit from,” Ms Fuller said. “Parents can bring their young kids to learn to ride and junior cyclists will have somewhere closer than the Gold Coast to train for events,” she said. “We will be able to host criterion race meets here, the Byron Tri Club can host run/bike training sessions, the Byron Bay Runners can use the track if their running fields are wet, it can double as a training base for interstate and overseas visiting cycling teams, and it can be used for general exercise by wheelchair users and anyone wanting to walk for recreation and fitness,” she said.
