By Dongyun Kwon
Coldstream Pump Track finally had its grand opening on Wednesday 1 November.
It has been open since December 2022, but the recent grand opening was to celebrate the end of the whole project after the construction of a public toilet and car park was completed.
Yarra Ranges Council Yarra Valley Trail project manager Paul Goodison said the project was funded by the State and the Federal governments.
“We got half a million dollars out of the State government and half a million dollars out of the Federal government to develop this formerly unused railway land,” he said.
Pump tracks are gaining in popularity all around Melbourne, used by skateboarders, bike riders and scooter riders.
Mr Goodison said the council reflected the recent trend and demand of local residents.
“We didn’t have any pump track except for a small crushed rock one in Mount Evelyn and the trend was for sealed asphalt pump tracks like this one [the new pump track in Coldstream],” he said.
“There’s another one about to finish construction in Wesburn.”
Pump tracks are expected to be recreation grounds for locals from a broad age group along with bringing health benefits.
“It’s great to see that many people like this place. From the first day it was opened [last December], we had a crowd of kids here,” Mr Goodison said.
“It’s always popular with full of people from very young kids on balance bikes through to adults, unless it’s raining and wet.”
