Design Concept Rationale Prepared As Part of the Ardeer Green Activity Hub Cycle Sports Facilities Master Plan

Criterium Tracks in Australia 3/02/15 About this document Contents This document is the Design Concept Rationale prepared as part of the Ardeer Green Activity Hub Cycle Sports Facilities Master Plan. The project 2 Cycle sports facilities – concept and Acknowledgments rationale 3 Jeavons Landscape Architects have prepared the The Draft Master Plan 7 master plan for this site. Site design and images 8 Ecology and Heritage Partners prepared the flora and fauna assessment and cultural heritage Attachment 1. review. Meinhardt Engineering prepared the stormwater Criterium tracks in Australia 16 assessment. We thank the following agencies who formed the Project Steering Group, as well as the input provided by VicRoads, and the Footscray Cycle Club. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, by any means, without the prior written permission of the Brimbank City Council and @leisure Rear 534 Mt Alexander Rd Ascot Vale Vic 3032 03 9326 1662 [email protected] www.atleisure.com.au Jeavons Landscape Architecture CYCLE SPORTS FACILITIES – CONCEPT AND RATIONALE 1 3/02/15 The project Methods The following methods were used in the This project is the Ardeer Green Activity Hub preparation of this document: Master Plan. The project will create a key destination in the west for cycling. • Consultation with Footscray Cycle Club and Cycling Victoria The site chosen for this master plan is an area • Discussions with the Project Steering in the suburb of Ardeer bounded by Forest Group (Department of Health, City Street to the South; the Western Ring Road / West Water, Melbourne Water and M80 to the West; Ballarat Road to the North; City of Brimbank) and the Kororoit Creek to the East (see • Site analysis below). • Review of Cultural heritage, drainage This Master Plan will be used to guide the / water, and ecological reports future development of this site and will be a provided by sub-consultants. key document used to seek funding The scope of the project did not provide for opportunities to assist the Steering community consultation. Committee in developing the Ardeer Green Activity Hub. This document provides a design concept and rationale for providing cycle sports facilities at the Ardeer Green Activity Hub. Ardeer Green Activity Hub Master Plan area CYCLE SPORTS FACILITIES – CONCEPT AND RATIONALE 2 3/02/15 Cycle sports facilities – concept The site has the opportunity to cater for cycle sports and cycling as a recreational pursuit. and rationale Most importantly, there is an opportunity to provide multiple disciplines of cycling. This is Cycle sport facilities are ideal to activate this important for a cycle club, as cycling clubs that site, as cycling has the second highest focus on just one discipline of the sport or one participation rate of any sport and physical age group are unlikely to be sustainable, nor activity in Australia. Cycle sports can be can they encourage greater participation. participated in at a range of levels, such as recreationally and as a competitive sport. There are a number of cycle sports disciplines. Cycle sports have mass appeal, with people of These include: all ages, genders, abilities and cultural 1. Mountain biking (MTB) (such as backgrounds taking an interest. down hill, cross country, Four cross, Additionally, there are a wide range of freeriding etc.) different disciplines. The site is conducive to 2. BMX (such as competition racing, dirt siting several different cycling facilities. jumps, pump, freestyle and flatland) 3. Road cycling: cyclocross, road racing Specific types of cycle sports facilities have and criterium racing been selected and designed so as to integrate 4. Track cycling (on a velodrome). with the site objectives. The site will be redesigned and managed in MTB order to: The greatest growth in cycle sport disciplines • Allow indigenous and other at present is in MTB. The closest cross country appropriate specific vegetation to MTB park may be located in the You Yangs, thrive although there are a few urban tracks, which • Enhance the amenity and may not have been purpose built, and are in environmental integrity of the site. varying conditions. One such track is in • Increase physical activity on the site, Westgate Park. in a municipality where sport and This site provides an opportunity for a short, physical activity participation is the local level recreational mountain bike trail. lowest of all municipalities in Victoria • Provide for a sport that is in high A small single track cross country MTB circuit demand, currently not well served, Such a small single track cross country circuit and can be provided in a relatively would be suitable for young people learning, sustainable way. Additionally, the e.g. parent and son / daughter recreational sport is relatively compatible with the riding. The most similar urban track is in environmental objectives for the site. Westgate Park. Reportedly, this track is not in • Provide for activities that are likely to good condition at present. However, it has add diversity to the offerings been used for recreational riding and twilight available to local young people, for competition. organised sport as well as unorganised recreation. CYCLE SPORTS FACILITIES – CONCEPT AND RATIONALE 3 3/02/15 The suggested track in Ardeer could be Dirt jumps / pump track approximately 3km long. It would use the “goat track” that already exists along the top These tracks should provide graded challenges of the escarpment on the west side of the in height and jump form. More proficient Kororoit Creek, and would return via the riders need a run of doubles that are formed maintenance track along the M80 (which is with launch and landing jumps. A maximum unsealed). height of 1.5 meters is recommended in a public place. Small deviations from this alignment could be made in less significant areas to create Young and less proficient riders should have changes in grade, utilise structures such as access to lower jumps that are formed as ladders / timber ramps (see images further in table tops that can be jumped or ridden over. the document) to create challenges, and Three runs of jumps are recommended to utilise existing rocks and fallen timber as provide graded challenges, so all riders are features of the track. These areas would need catered for, and so as to encourage rider to be carefully mapped on site and trial ridden development. by an experienced mountain bike rider. Also, The closest dirt jumps and pump track is in the where the more challenging features are City of Melbourne. provided, a “chicken run” would be provided for less proficient riders to be able to bypass BMX track (competition or recreational) these features. There is no BMX track in Brimbank. The The single track may require some minor closest competition track is in Sunbury or armouring to prevent erosion on slopes. This Wyndham. track has the benefit of not only providing a The site has the space to provide a BMX track. new experience to young people in the area, The space required is approximately 120m by but also bringing people into a site which has 100m. A BMX track is generally between 300m beautiful trees, interesting environmental - 400m long. The track could be provided as an features, views of the creek, as well as high informal recreational track that could be restorative values. A single track can sit on top developed as a competition facility at a later of the ground (in this case largely the existing stage. alignment), with little impact on A lower grade recreational track would environmental features. Therefore it is highly encourage skill development and allow for compatible with the nature values of the site training. An experienced BMX designer must (see images further in the document). prepare the design of this facility. BMX All competition tracks are operated by a club. It is a very family-oriented sport. They are BMX tracks can be provided as dirt jumps, often fenced, but have an open gate to allow pump tracks or recreational circuit tracks, or for cyclists to enter. At present the Footscray even as a competition-racing track. Cycle Club (who are the likely main users of the criterium circuit) do not offer BMX competition. The best position for such a track has been identified on site for if/when Council or a club wishes to pursue this element. The start hill and finish line are best located adjacent to the west, so as to be serviceable off the maintenance vehicle track. CYCLE SPORTS FACILITIES – CONCEPT AND RATIONALE 4 3/02/15 Competition tracks are typically provided on a This site would provide the club with a base, regional basis. New facilities tend to have from which to grow participation (especially lights. juniors) and potentially offer other disciplines This is a good site for such a facility, as it is of cycling, as without a facility, the club will away from residences. In the long term, this struggle to attract additional riders. track could be used for events if developed to The closest criterium circuits are in Wyndham a competition standard. (off-road), Moonee Valley (Essendon Fields Competition tracks are typically provided on a on-road) Hume (Campbellfield on-road) and regional basis. Melton (off-road). The Wyndham facility is a private driver training facility and may not be Road Racing available in future. The Melton off-road facility is poorly designed and not used for Criterium track racing. This site has potential to provide the following There is a major demand for a criterium circuit facilities - all of which have direct relevance to that is well designed and off-road, as it is the local community, provide family-based increasingly difficult and expensive for club to opportunities, graded challenges for local close roads for racing.

Load more