Community Sport Minister Ros Spence (centre left) and City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali (centre right) were on hand to officially open the upgrades at the Shepparton BMX Track and Cycling Precinct.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
It’s wheels up for Shepparton’s newest crown jewel: a fully-upgraded BMX Track and Cycling Precinct.
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On Wednesday, dignitaries and riders alike congregated at the Packham St complex for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting of a 12-month-long project delivered through the Victorian Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.
A brand-new two-storey pavilion serves as the precinct’s pièce de résistance, offering sweeping views of the track and premium broadcasting opportunities.
Down below, the BMX track has been resurfaced, while the five and eight metre starting hills have been revamped.
Next door, the adjacent cycling velodrome has also received 300 lux upgraded lights to support night training and more competition.
But the facility is more than the sum of its jumps, pumps and berms.
There’s a kind of civic pride that blooms in the wake of Wednesday’s announcement and there to open the new facility was Community Sport Minister Ros Spence.
Community Sport Minister Ros Spence said the new pavilion and upgrades would make the Shepparton BMX Track and Cycling Precinct a “real destination”.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“This is a really important investment ... it's doing what was needed,” Spence said.
“It makes it a real destination. We know that whenever there’s good pavilions, good facilities, they're a draw card for the community to get involved in sport, which is really important.
“But they also make it possible to have bigger events and draw people from right across the country.”
The Packham St venue has a track record of hosting elite events such as the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in 2020 and the recently-unveiled facility is hoped to jump-start the international racing heartbeat in the Goulburn Valley.
A snub on the proposal for regional Victoria — including Shepparton — to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games left a sting when it was announced two years ago, but City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali was elated to see rolling commitments to the region arrive from the Victorian Government.
“This is an exciting day, it’s an exciting progression in sport and health and wellbeing, and I’m grateful to play a small part in it alongside our deputy mayor and councillor that are with me today,” he said.
“Well done to all involved, we appreciate your ongoing commitment — this is the start of another exciting journey.
“We welcome further announcements to our sporting precinct as well.”
A healthy crowd turned out to welcome the Shepparton BMX Track and Cycling Precinct completion announcement on Wednesday.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
With council pressing for further investment in the region, namely Shepparton Sports Stadium, Spence said “funding for any project would come out of one of our competitive grants programs and that's why I'd be encouraging council to consider the regional community sports infrastructure fund”.
As for the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program, the upgraded Shepparton BMX Track and Cycling Precinct was the first of 16 projects to be completed.
It couldn’t have come at a better time, either.
This weekend, the first and second rounds of the AusCycling 2025 BMX Racing National Series will arrive at the venue, welcoming the sleek whir of tires on tarmac from Australia’s best riders — and adrenaline-fuelled fanfare to match.
The event will draw hundreds to the track, but extending beyond the weekend, the new facility will cater to the next crop of Shepparton talent hoping to reach the pinnacle of two-wheeled racing.
One man who’s been there is Olympic gold medal cyclist, Shepparton Cycling Club president and Shepparton native Brett Lancaster, who was rapt to see significant investment made in his home town.
“I grew up in Shepparton, I spent a lot of time on that track over there and it made me the man I am today,” he said.
“That track was built over 40 years ago and it actually has stood the test of time.
“This facility itself, Shepparton is very lucky to have this. If you come down here on any training night, there is hundreds of kids training, this facility (is) utilised and it’s going to grow.”
Similarly, Shepparton BMX Club co-president Ben Fitzsimmons said the latest upgrade means the world to its core members.
“One of our long-time club members mentioned the other day he still remembers the two small shipping containers that were used as clubrooms and canteens — this was also 30 years ago,” he said.
“Reflecting where we come from to see where this is now, it just blew him away.”
So, what does this development mean to the next generation?
Shepparton BMX Club's Hunter Fitzsimmons is rapt to see his track receive a significant face lift.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Shepparton’s new facility may have been built of concrete and steel, but it opened on opportunity — and there to seize it are the likes of Fitzsimmons’ BMX-mad son Hunter.
“The track’s riding a lot better and the new pavilion is a lot better. There’s a lot more people coming along to try it out as well which is really good,” he said.
“There’s going to be more people to push yourself and show off, basically.”
