November 21-27 will see, all being well, the National AusCycling 2022 National Championship for BMX in Launceston.
The 2022 Tasmanian BMX championship is scheduled for a month earlier (October 21-23) with Southern City BMX as the venue – all being well. But the status of that venue is still up in the air after Glenorchy City Council discovered belatedly that the issues with the proposed new location raised the cost estimate to over triple the original estimate.
In the Mercury today (14/3/22) we read an article headed “Growth bid in BMX move”. The Tasmanian state manager for AusCycling – the national governing body for cycling in Australia – Craig Notman, appointed only last year, is quoted as saying AusCycling had “contingencies” if the Berriedale site was no longer available.
Craig may have a plan B but since the Tasmanian championship is now only six months away, I suspect he would prefer certainty concerning the Berriedale facility.
The pressure is definitely on the Glenorchy City Council to find a feasible new location for a replacement of the Berriedale track. Not only feasible from an engineering point of view but also from a funding point of view.
It may well be that any new track of a championship standard will require more funds than that set aside by Council. It would not surprise if Council were looking for other sources of funds to supplement its own resources. Given Commonwealth and State government elections this year, could Council extract a funding commitment from electioneering candidates or political parties? Will Council also work with the club to search for potential sponsors willing to provide funds in return for naming rights?
If Glenorchy cannot resolve the situation inside our city then we could see the club track, the only BMX racing track in the Hobart region, move outside the city. This potential outcome would embarrass Council, and upset members and supporters of a club who spent a great deal or time, effort and money building their Berriedale facility.
The question that Council, aldermen and staff, should answer now is: what lessons have been learnt from the BMX track saga?
Glenorchy City Observer 
The GCC seem to have a lot of negativity on their agenda so what are they doing with ratepayers money. They certainly are not looking after the younger generation
Late-breaking news at Sorell. The agenda for the March 2022 meeting of Sorell Council last night (15/3/22) included an item entitled “SOUTHERN TAS BMX FACILITY – PEMBROKE PARK” recommending that “Council resolve to: (i) authorise the General Manager to notify Glenorchy City Council confirming Sorell Council’s in principle support to facilitate the southern Tasmanian BMX facility project at Pembroke Park; and (ii) authorise the General Manager to execute the necessary agreements with Glenorchy City Council and the Department of Communities, Sport and Recreation to transfer funding of $433,597 and $250,000 respectively.”
(https://www.sorell.tas.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Council-Meeting-Agenda-OPEN-15-March-2022.pdf)
According to the agenda item, a number of Council staff have “consulted with GCC staff, Club members, a consultant designer and contractors since the Project was first raised in November 2021”. Yes November last year.
Sorell Council unanimously approved the recommendation.
You can view the discussion and decision at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPtM1Ifqw6o – bmx item starts at time 41:57.