Baw Baw Cycling Projects Reference Group

Consultation has concluded

Baw Baw Shire Council is looking for passionate community members to help identify opportunities for future cycling projects across the Shire.

Cycling comes in many formats, from BMX to criterium and pump tracks to road races, and different cyclists have different interests.

To ensure all bike riders have the opportunity to share their ideas, thoughts and feedback on the types of cycling infrastructure they believe Baw Baw needs now and into the future, Council is forming the Baw Baw Cycling Project Reference Group (PRG).

The desire to form the PRG, which will work with Council Officers to explore options for improved cycling facilities, with a priority to provide pump track facilities, BMX facilities, and/or a criterium track, this comes following the discontinuation of the Logan Park Cycling Centre of Excellence Project.

The project was discontinued due to the unviable ground conditions of the proposed site.

Although the Cycling Centre of Excellence Project has been discontinued, Baw Baw Shire remains committed to providing high-quality recreation infrastructure for all community members.

Through the PRG, Council aims to work with Baw Baw's cycling community to set the wheels in motion on a new set of exciting projects. The PRG will also act as a conduit for all cycling related project currently underway.

Expressions of interest for the Cycling PRG closed at 8:30am Monday, 19 February 2024.

Current Cycling Related Projects:

An update on PRG meetings and cycling related projects will be provided following a PRG meeting on this webpage.

Project Update - March 2024.

The Cycling PRG (CPRG) members met for the first time in March. The PRG consists of 6 passionate community members who were appointed through the above mentioned expression of interest process.

At this meeting the CPRG identified and explored cycling infrastructure opportunities, what was important for the identified opportunities and then prioritised them.

The top three priorities identified were: 1. Criterium Track 2. BMX Track (A new track located in a wider cycling precinct) 3. Pump Track This exercise confirmed the top three priority facilities were consistent with the original Council motion.

The ultimate goal of the group would be to have a site large enough to co-locate these priority facilities and create a whole of sport precinct and to have pump tracks in all major towns. Other identified opportunities were shared trails connecting all towns, downhill facility at Mount Worth, Warragul to Rokeby Trail and a Tarago mountain bike/ downhill facility.

See attached a copy of the presentation from meeting #1 in the documents section which includes an update on all the above mentioned cycling related projects.

Project Update - April 2024.

The Cycling PRG members held a second meeting on Wednesday 3 April. An update was provided on all current cycling related projects followed by an ideation session with the group on what example pump, BMX and criterium facilities they are aware of that fit the vision for facilities that the community would like to see in Baw Baw.

At this meeting the ideation session focused on further exploring the top three facilities, the group shared examples of facilities that would meet the vision of what the community would like to see in Baw Baw. There was a lot of great examples shared that helped shape an idea of the look and feel of the facilities the group envisioned. There was also some good discussion on the short-term vs long term focus of facilities. A pump track in a high traffic area like Burke Street in Warragul was raised as an achievable short-term option for cycling infrastructure with the longer term vision of a wider cycling precinct with a criterium track, BMX track and other cycling infrastructure.

See attached a copy of the presentation from meeting #2 in the documents section which includes an update on all the above mentioned cycling related projects.

On Tuesday 30 April the CPRG held its 3rd meeting. The CPRG focused on exploring possible location opportunities.

As a short-term priority project, the group further discussed Burke Street Park as a good location for a pump track. This location is a high traffic area, has good access via existing pathways and has good existing amenities including toilets, car parking, seating, and shade. This creates a more achievable and affordable project as any investment would be in the pump track itself only.

There were also two other locations identified in the meeting that the CPRG thought would be worth further exploring for medium to long term projects. The first was the old pony club area of Bellbird Park, this space is approximately 4.5 hectares and could potentially cater for a criterium track, BMX track and pump track. The second location the CPRG would like to explore further for a wider cycling precinct if Bellbird Park is not viable, is the western section of the Trafalgar Recreation Reserve. There is approximately 15 hectares of reserve that is identified in the Trafalgar Recreation Reserve Masterplan as open space for warm up spaces, casual use and events that could be considered.

Project Update - July 2024

At the 3 July Council Meeting, Council received a report in regards to Improved Cycling Infrastructure.

The outcome of the report and recommendation that was endorsed by Council was;

That Council;

1.    Note the community consultation, feedback from the Cycling Projects Reference Group (CPRG) and investigation works into options for improved cycling infrastructure within Baw Baw Shire;

2.    Endorse officers to proceed with site investigations and the development of a concept design for a bike pump track at Burke Street Park in Warragul. Including providing the opportunity for wider community consultation on the draft concept design, once developed;

3.    Support the use of the remaining 23/24 project budget as seed funding for a future grant application to enable the delivery of the bike pump track as per the developed concept design; and,

4.    Defer the update of the Skate and BMX strategy (2012 to 2030) that would include bike jumps and Mountain Biking facilities until the completion of the Open Space Strategy at which time Council will be required to determine the prioritisation and ranking of all identified strategies to be completed by Council.

A copy of the report and supporting attachments can be found here - Ordinary Council 3 July 2024.

Project Update - November 2024

De-risking and site investigation works at proposed Burke Street Warragul location. This included service location, full feature and level survey and geotechnical testing.

Project Update - December 2024

Common Ground were engaged to undertake a concept design for the pump track at Burke Street Park. Work on the design will start in early 2025 with the aim to seek community feedback on a draft concept in February.

Baw Baw Shire Council is looking for passionate community members to help identify opportunities for future cycling projects across the Shire.

Cycling comes in many formats, from BMX to criterium and pump tracks to road races, and different cyclists have different interests.

To ensure all bike riders have the opportunity to share their ideas, thoughts and feedback on the types of cycling infrastructure they believe Baw Baw needs now and into the future, Council is forming the Baw Baw Cycling Project Reference Group (PRG).

The desire to form the PRG, which will work with Council Officers to explore options for improved cycling facilities, with a priority to provide pump track facilities, BMX facilities, and/or a criterium track, this comes following the discontinuation of the Logan Park Cycling Centre of Excellence Project.

The project was discontinued due to the unviable ground conditions of the proposed site.

Although the Cycling Centre of Excellence Project has been discontinued, Baw Baw Shire remains committed to providing high-quality recreation infrastructure for all community members.

Through the PRG, Council aims to work with Baw Baw's cycling community to set the wheels in motion on a new set of exciting projects. The PRG will also act as a conduit for all cycling related project currently underway.

Expressions of interest for the Cycling PRG closed at 8:30am Monday, 19 February 2024.

Current Cycling Related Projects:

An update on PRG meetings and cycling related projects will be provided following a PRG meeting on this webpage.

Project Update - March 2024.

The Cycling PRG (CPRG) members met for the first time in March. The PRG consists of 6 passionate community members who were appointed through the above mentioned expression of interest process.

At this meeting the CPRG identified and explored cycling infrastructure opportunities, what was important for the identified opportunities and then prioritised them.

The top three priorities identified were: 1. Criterium Track 2. BMX Track (A new track located in a wider cycling precinct) 3. Pump Track This exercise confirmed the top three priority facilities were consistent with the original Council motion.

The ultimate goal of the group would be to have a site large enough to co-locate these priority facilities and create a whole of sport precinct and to have pump tracks in all major towns. Other identified opportunities were shared trails connecting all towns, downhill facility at Mount Worth, Warragul to Rokeby Trail and a Tarago mountain bike/ downhill facility.

See attached a copy of the presentation from meeting #1 in the documents section which includes an update on all the above mentioned cycling related projects.

Project Update - April 2024.

The Cycling PRG members held a second meeting on Wednesday 3 April. An update was provided on all current cycling related projects followed by an ideation session with the group on what example pump, BMX and criterium facilities they are aware of that fit the vision for facilities that the community would like to see in Baw Baw.

At this meeting the ideation session focused on further exploring the top three facilities, the group shared examples of facilities that would meet the vision of what the community would like to see in Baw Baw. There was a lot of great examples shared that helped shape an idea of the look and feel of the facilities the group envisioned. There was also some good discussion on the short-term vs long term focus of facilities. A pump track in a high traffic area like Burke Street in Warragul was raised as an achievable short-term option for cycling infrastructure with the longer term vision of a wider cycling precinct with a criterium track, BMX track and other cycling infrastructure.

See attached a copy of the presentation from meeting #2 in the documents section which includes an update on all the above mentioned cycling related projects.

On Tuesday 30 April the CPRG held its 3rd meeting. The CPRG focused on exploring possible location opportunities.

As a short-term priority project, the group further discussed Burke Street Park as a good location for a pump track. This location is a high traffic area, has good access via existing pathways and has good existing amenities including toilets, car parking, seating, and shade. This creates a more achievable and affordable project as any investment would be in the pump track itself only.

There were also two other locations identified in the meeting that the CPRG thought would be worth further exploring for medium to long term projects. The first was the old pony club area of Bellbird Park, this space is approximately 4.5 hectares and could potentially cater for a criterium track, BMX track and pump track. The second location the CPRG would like to explore further for a wider cycling precinct if Bellbird Park is not viable, is the western section of the Trafalgar Recreation Reserve. There is approximately 15 hectares of reserve that is identified in the Trafalgar Recreation Reserve Masterplan as open space for warm up spaces, casual use and events that could be considered.

Project Update - July 2024

At the 3 July Council Meeting, Council received a report in regards to Improved Cycling Infrastructure.

The outcome of the report and recommendation that was endorsed by Council was;

That Council;

1.    Note the community consultation, feedback from the Cycling Projects Reference Group (CPRG) and investigation works into options for improved cycling infrastructure within Baw Baw Shire;

2.    Endorse officers to proceed with site investigations and the development of a concept design for a bike pump track at Burke Street Park in Warragul. Including providing the opportunity for wider community consultation on the draft concept design, once developed;

3.    Support the use of the remaining 23/24 project budget as seed funding for a future grant application to enable the delivery of the bike pump track as per the developed concept design; and,

4.    Defer the update of the Skate and BMX strategy (2012 to 2030) that would include bike jumps and Mountain Biking facilities until the completion of the Open Space Strategy at which time Council will be required to determine the prioritisation and ranking of all identified strategies to be completed by Council.

A copy of the report and supporting attachments can be found here - Ordinary Council 3 July 2024.

Project Update - November 2024

De-risking and site investigation works at proposed Burke Street Warragul location. This included service location, full feature and level survey and geotechnical testing.

Project Update - December 2024

Common Ground were engaged to undertake a concept design for the pump track at Burke Street Park. Work on the design will start in early 2025 with the aim to seek community feedback on a draft concept in February.