AusLeisure

A new $4.8 million BMX track has opened at Brisbane's Sleeman Sports Complex.

The track was launched by 330 riders along with Queensland Sport Minister Phil Reeves, State Member for Chatsworth Steve Kilburn and BMX Australia President Barry Knight during a recent BMX Queensland statewide competition.

Minister Reeves said the state-of-the-art facilities offer riders of all levels a chance to experience a track of Olympic standard, explaining "this BMX track is an Australian first and is great for fans and riders alike.

"There are currently 32 BMX clubs across Queensland and the popularity of this sport continues to grow.

"(The) Government's investment of $4.8 million is a ripper for riders, and with London 2012 just around the corner it will be put to very good use as elite training squads prepare for the Games.

"Queensland will be the training ground for many Olympians - including Beijing Olympian Kamikaze - and this is great for grass-roots BMX and the local economy."

BMX Australia's Barry Knight said this is another step forward for BMX in Australia, adding "the building of a Supercross BMX track in Australia is a wonderful facility to support the growing number of club and elite riders participating in the sport. We currently have more than 7,000 registered BMX riders and this number is growing all the time.

"Having access to a facility like this will improve riders' skill levels, fitness and make them more competitive on the international stage.

"Coming off the first ever BMX Olympic event at the 2008 Olympic Games, this track will be of exceptional benefit to our Olympic hopefuls for London 2012, giving our riders the chance to train on a world class track."

The track is also seen as enhancing the Gold Coast's bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In brief:

• The track features two start ramps (5 metre and 8 metre with an 18/28° sloping angle) with major double-jumps, step ups and a technical rhythm section, and riders will hit speeds of up to 60km/h around the 400 metre tracks;
• More than 330 registered riders aged from 8 years of age to 45+ from as a far afield as New Zealand, Tamworth, Victoria and regional Queensland competed at the opening event;
• The popularity of cycling in general continues to grow and the following for BMX (in terms of numbers in Australia) is second only to the United States;
• More than 840,000 people use Sleeman Sports Complex every year, and the complex has onsite accommodation for training camps and a number of other facilities (gym, aquatic centre) which could be utilised when riders are not tackling the new track;
• Sleeman is currently undergoing $17.3 million upgrade - the largest since it was established for the 1982 Commonwealth Games - to install a new pool, BMX track and another Australian first, a water-based jumps facility for aerial skiers.

14th April 2011 - MAJOR WORKS COMMENCE AT BRISBANE’S SLEEMAN SPORTS COMPLEX

27th September 2010 - EXPANSION REVEALED AT BRISBANE’S SLEEMAN SPORTS COMPLEX

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.