Council last week rejected a proposal to use $120,000 of its $752,000 Federal Government and Local Community Infrastructure Grant to resurface the velodrome, voting instead to spend $135,000 to begin work on a $1million footpath between Fountaindale Road and The Old Cheese Factory at Robertson.

Southern Highland Cycle Club vice-president Richard Jefford and club commissaire Peter Tomlinson said the decision was a snub to the area’s fastest growing sport.

The Southern Highlands Cycling Club, with more than 200 members, is just one of 14 separate cycling groups in the area.

The Southern Highlands Cycle Club pays levies to council for use of the velodrome, but in comparison to other clubs receives little in return, Mr Jefford said.

“The velodrome has cost council nothing,” he said. “It was built with a Federal Government grant and the only maintenance council does is to mow the grass in the middle.”

Mr Jefford said, unlike sporting clubs that will receive funding for better lighting and irrigation, the Southern Highlands Cycle Club was only asking for an existing facility to be made safe for riders.

“We don’t even have lights. We just want the track made safe,” he said.

“The surface is breaking up and will end up being a eyesore and unused because it will become totally unsafe.”

For the full story see the Southern Highland News, Monday, December 22

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