Kathy Gleeson, Suffolk Park
When I first heard of, and supported, the pump track at the Linda Vidler Park in Suffolk Park it was to provide a facility for the young and older children of the local area.
It is now being referred to as the Byron Bay pump track and as stated in last week’s Echo Letters pages it will cater to people from all over the Northern Rivers. Bike clubs with memberships in the hundreds are intending to hold workshops etc.
Surely it is not too late for Council to do the right thing and relocate this half a million dollar development to the Cavanbah Centre, which has been created to accommodate these [larger] sort of activities.
Can’t be done Kathy. Funding is from S94 development funds where development was undertaken in Suffolk Park. Council shouls build a second pump track at Cavanbah.
That is absolutely right, David. Additionally – if you wanted to provide a leisure facility for youth and young children I can’t think of a less accessible site than the Cavanbah Centre. The reason that it is already under-utilised is its relegation to the wasteland area of Ewingsdale Road.
The NSW Government grant was awarded for a Suffolk Park facility. The considerable expenditure on environmental and other assessments/investigations, as well as the detailed design work, has already been specific to this area, along with site preparation works. This eleventh hour push for another site is ridiculous, especially after years of community consultation and strong backing for the track.
Actually Cavanbah would be more appropriate, as it would also serve all the kids coming to West Byron, who will have to navigate bike ways, and traffic, to reach the wondrous amenities that kids of well served Byron Bay and Suffolk Park enjoy (and the school).
It would also prompt a greening at Cavanbah, which is currently hot (and asphalted) … and be a handy access point for all the adults, cars and bikes coming keenly from other towns and bike clubs.