By Callum Ludwig
The Wesburn Park Pump Track celebrated its long-awaited opening on Saturday 18 November with a soft launch event.
An official opening will be held in early 2024 when further facilities and amenities are completed and ready for use.
Executive Project Manager of the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination at Yarra Ranges Council Matt Harrington said that with over 1000 square meters of track surface, this is one of the biggest pump tracks in Australia.
“It caters for everyone from beginners through to elite racers, with a mirrored, head-to-head, race track,” he said.
“We had a constant stream of riders coming through all day, some of whom had travelled some distance to visit the track. But what struck me was how many local kids were here, and the talent that they are already showing.”
The new $949,000 facility was supported by funding from the State Government’s Growing Suburbs Fund and follows the Coldstream Pump Track which opened its track in late 2022.
The Wesburn Park Pump Track is also set to feature as a trailhead for the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination.
Mr Harrington said it’s been amazing to see the positive reactions from the community. “Watching the kids on their balance bikes zooming around with big smiles is pretty cool and then at the other end of the track, it’s the big kids racing or getting air over the big jumps,” he said.
“Facilities like this promote an active and healthy lifestyle, but they’re also great for developing skills. I’ve got no doubt that we’ll see a future world champion come out of the local area in the years to come,”
“The track compliments work already complete at Wesburn Park, including additional car parking and visitor amenity upgrades, that will support future visitors to the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination.”
As part of Yarra Ranges Council’s initial community consultation between October and November 2021, 89 per cent of over 2000 survey respondents wanted to see a bike park facility at Wesburn Park, with 72 per cent of those preferring a pump track.
The pump track, which features beginner, intermediate and advanced sections, was constructed by World Trail.
“We are proud to bring this cutting-edge facility to Wesburn. It’s more than just a track; it’s a community hub for fitness, fun, and the development of rider skills,” said Daniel Snelgrove of World Trail in a post on the company’s Facebook page.
“Our team has worked tirelessly to create a track that is not only large in scale but also innovative in design, ensuring a thrilling and safe experience for everyone.”
