Wheels turn on off road facility
26 March 2019
THE construction of Inverell’s $1.4 million off-road cycling and sports facility on Lake Inverell Drive is steaming ahead, with members of the cycle club and Council inspecting progress earlier this week.
Inverell Shire Council mayor Paul Harmon met with the team behind the project recently and says construction is running ahead of schedule.
“We have completed the earthworks phase of the project as well as the majority of the drainage works. The next major step forward will be bitumen sealing, which will be undertaken later in the year in the warmer months”.
Cr Harmon says he expects the 1,600 metre facility to be used daily by cyclists as well for walking, running and school events.
“The circuit connects directly to the town’s 15km cycleway, so it’s terrific residents and visitors can stay active and safe with these off-road facilities”.
“This facility also provides a safe racing environment for cyclists and the local Cycle Club will no longer have to close roads and streets around Inverell to host their events legally and safely”.
President of Inverell Cycle Club, Andrew Blake inspected the site this week and agrees it will have a big impact on the future of cycling in Inverell and club numbers.
“We are all very keen to see the track operational so we can begin using it for casual training as well as monthly organised events”.
“The design of the track provides a wide range of options to cater for juniors as well as challenging sections for more experienced riders and club pros”.
“Inter-club events involving surrounding cycle clubs like Armidale, Tamworth, North Coast and Hunter areas are on the agenda and state and national events can also now be a possibility”.
“The track can be divided into three sections, allowing us to include the whole length for endurance racing or to utilise the central section for more street type racing events like a criterium”.
“The entire circuit exposes riders to some testing climbs and by simply changing the direction around the track, cyclists will have a new range of challenges”.
Funding for the project has been provided by the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Image: A birds eye view of the $1.4 million sports circuit.
For further information contact:
Fiona Adams | Inverell Shire Council | PO Box 138, Inverell NSW 2360 | 02 67288288 | Fiona.Adams@inverell.nsw.gov.au
