By Callum Ludwig
Opening up just before Christmas on Tuesday 20 December, the Coldstream Station Pump Track has been a hit with families over the holiday period.
The just under $1.1 million track took into account feedback from the community and particularly Coldstream Primary School students prior to the final design being chosen in August last year.
Mooroolbark resident John Taylor and his son Harlan came to test out the track and he said there were a few other places to ride around the Yarra Ranges, but they were becoming increasingly busy.
“The more venues we have, it gives kids a bit of a chance to learn in a quieter environment where there’s less pressure with crowds, so the more venues the better I think,” he said.
“It’s great to have easily accessible venues and for them to be free is also helpful with how expensive everything is, getting kids out of the house and active. A bit of shelter from the sun and a few amenities like a bubble tap and bins would be nice to see installed.”
Works are not yet done, with the construction of a public toilet, signage installation, landscaping works, installation of park furniture and trail connections throughout the reserve and to the Yarra Valley Trail all still to come in the early months of this year.
Currently, the unsealed Mt Evelyn pump track was the only designated pump track in the Yarra Ranges before the sealed Coldstream track’s opening but the Wesburn Park Pump Track is currently in line for a detailed design stage throughout the first few months of 2023.
The pump track can be found at 1A Coldstream West Road, Coldstream and can be reached by turning onto Station Street from the Maroondah Highway.
271 responses were received in the consultation process, with around 50 per cent of respondents being Yarra Ranges residents, including 9.38 per cent from Coldstream.
From the feedback, Yarra Ranges Council added a beginner loop and made improved efforts to make sure the track is more accessible, such as by advocating for a pedestrian crossing along Maroondah Highway to provide safer on-foot access.
