Official dirt cycle track for Bulli before the end of year

WORK is expected to start on a new bike track at Bulli Park before the end of the year.

Wollongong City Council have announced Bulli will be the latest suburb to get a new local bike track.

The Council is building new dirt-tracks in different suburbs to offer opportunities to young riders to improve their skills. These tracks are often built in spaces near existing illegal bike tracks, which were made by enthusiastic riders.

A Council spokesperson said that illegal tracks can be dangerous and damage sensitive environments.

“By working with our community, we’re able to build safer and better bike track alternatives,” the spokesperson said.

Last month Council asked the community for their preference for a track in one of three locations: Bulli Park, Mailbag Hollow, (opposite the old Bulli bowling Club at Slacky Flat), or in Ocean Park Reserve, Woonona. Council received 514 online feedback forms and 17 emails.

Council’s Director Infrastructure and Works Joanne Page said feedback has been received asking about existing uses like the cross country track and heritage landscape elements within the site.

“We will be able to build this new bike track in a way that does not conflict with existing uses, put the heritage elements at risk and that will sit sympathetically within the overall landscape of the park,” Ms Page said.

Council says the park has many positives that will suit the new dirt bike track including:

• its slope and size, which allow for exciting design opportunities
• its central location and links to the coastal cycleway and other bike paths
• its established trees providing welcome shade cover
• its connections to three nearby schools and other recreation activities.

“We undertook a trial of this exciting program last year which culminated in the construction of Harry Graham Park’s track in West Wollongong,’’ Ms Page said

“The concept saw us working closely with young people and their families as well as an industry expert in the development of dirt pump tracks, to create a local track that would replace those being built illegally in the nearby creek corridor.

“For the Bulli Track we will work with Iconic Trails to design a track that utilises the site’s downhill run and caters for all abilities. We’re looking to build two tracks before the end of the year; a beginner track at the flatter top section of the park and an intermediate downhill track.’’

At the same time construction is also underway at Dimond Bros Reserve in Dapto on two tracks following community engagement in September on the plans for the site.

The Dapto tracks will feature a smaller track designed to build beginners’ confidence with smaller jumps, while there will be a bigger track with more challenging elements for people who already have experience with these types of tracks.

“Wollongong is proud of its UCI Bike City status and we’re investing in a significant range and diversity of biking infrastructure including these dirt-style tracks in suburbs that allow for young people in our community to develop their biking skills,’’ Ms Page said.

“There is a lot happening around our community to improve cycling infrastructure from the launch of the path in West Wollongong, there is a track in West Dapto under construction, starting on Bulli Park soon and work to begin shortly on another of these tracks in Anama Street, Fairy Meadow. It’s an exciting time for be a bike rider in Wollongong.’’

Ms Page thanked those who provided feedback during the engagement around the three options for Bulli and Woonona.

“While we are moving forward to create this new track for Bulli before the end of the year, there are ongoing plans to see more of these tracks across our city,’’ she said.

“So while the focus right now is on Bulli Park, we appreciate the feedback we received on all three locations and we haven’t ruled out additional track in these suburban locations at a later date.’’

For more information about Bulli Park, Dimond Bros or Anama Street visit the Join the Conversation pages on Council’s website.

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