National standard BMX track set to take off

Hastings district councillor Wayne Bradshaw (left), Hawke's Bay BMX Club chairman Anthony Shaw and Amy Martin (14) from Havelock North at the Hawke's Bay BMX Club night in Havelock North. Photo/Glenn Taylor

A 7000sq m BMX track included in plans to extend Havelock's Guthrie Park is expected to see a resurgence of the sport in the Bay.

Romanes Reserve, an empty plot on Romanes Dr, will be transformed to accommodate a new soccer field and a national standard BMX track. An entrance to the extended park will be fed by Romanes Dr and run parallel to the Karituwhenua Stream, providing ample parking. A bridge will also be constructed allowing for foot traffic over the stream, which separates the pre-existing Guthrie Park from the reserve.

Guthrie Park, which is situated on Brookvale Rd, is home to three large soccer fields and one junior soccer field. The park has one of the largest junior soccer clubs in the non-metropolitan North Island. Havelock North also hosts one of the largest junior rugby clubs. Hastings district councillor Wayne Bradshaw said the extended park would act as an "attractor" for junior sports.

Mr Bradshaw said the park would exist in a "prime location," to attract young people to the new facilities. The park's position near Napier Rd and Crosses Rd was an opportune point of convergence.

A BMX track already exists on a small portion of the reserve. Hawke's Bay BMX Club chairman Anthony Shaw said it was in need of an update.

"It isn't up to national standard. It's shorter, and smaller, than normal tracks. We've been working for a new track for four years."

The Hawke's Bay once boasted eight BMX Clubs. The Hawke's Bay BMX Club, which was founded in 2010 and consists of around 60 members, has been yearning for a full-sized track. Mr Shaw hopes the new track will see a resurgence of the sport in the Bay.

"We're expecting our membership to double," he said.

Earth movers will begin work on Romanes Reserve in the next two weeks. A mound of dirt on the reserve will be lowered and the ground will be levelled to create the soccer field.

Once the ground is levelled, 7000cu m, or 1200 truckloads, of surplus dirt will be used to build the new BMX track. The track will feature a starting gate that stands 5m high.

"This will be a regional facility," Mr Bradshaw said. "If we provide the facilities, it gives kids an opportunity to participate. Biking starts when you're younger. It's something that keeps our kids active and fit."

Mr Bradshaw said the track will "add to the menu" of reasons for kids in the region to get outdoors. It will join a growing list of biking-oriented facilities in the Bay, including an extensive network of cycle lanes and trails. The Bay also hosts the Rambles road cycling club and the Hawke's Bay Mountain Bike Club, which are among the biggest cycling clubs in New Zealand.

The extension of Guthrie Park is expected to cost up to $700,000. The council will pay for the construction of the soccer field and the $100,000 - $130,000 required to build the BMX track will be raised through community fundraising efforts. The Hawke's Bay BMX club will lease the 7000m2 track from the Hastings District Council.

Mr Bradshaw urges the community to mobilise and get involved in the fundraising required for the project.

"This will be a real asset for the region."