Tarcutta's new bike jump and pump track a hit with the community

The Tarcutta community has welcomed its long-anticipated new bike jump and pump track.

Wagga City councillor Amelia Parkins opened the new bike track at Paddy Osborne Park on Thursday (9 June).

The newly opened bike track was a collaborative effort between the Wagga City Council and Tarcutta Progress Association. They successfully acquired $127,000 in grants from the NSW Government ClubGRANTS program.

Tarcutta Progress Association treasurer Kathy Peel said that when the residents were asked what they would like to see in the town, they favoured a new bike track.

Mrs Peel said she was pleased to have achieved the “enormous task”.

“Working with Council has been good; I was always kept in the loop and always asked for my opinion,” she said.

Mrs Peel said now the track is finished, everyone in the Tarcutta community “loves it” and is happy with the outcome.

“Parents have commented when they see me that their children love it and the school has used it several times already by taking the children out and utilising it during school hours as an activity,” she said.

Cr Parkins congratulated the Tarcutta Progress Association and Mrs Peel’s efforts to inform the council what the community wanted in recreational space for young people.

Cr Parkins acknowledged the efforts to secure the additional funding for the bike track.

“It’s pleasing to see committed community members working with council to create something like this track, which benefits residents and will help draw travellers and visitors into Tarcutta for years to come,” Cr Parkins said.

Parks and Recreation assets officer Rob Owers said the new track results from the community’s feedback, which was also noted in the council’s development of the Recreation, Open Space and Community Strategy 2040.

Mr Owers and the Tarcutta community members worked together to design the final layout of the Track.

“We wanted to make sure a whole range of ages would be able to ride the track,” Mr Owers said.

“The outside 140-me track is a hot mix pump line with rollers, berms and table-top jumps that nearly anyone can ride, from a three-year-old to an adult. It’s perfect for skateboarders, scooters and all kinds of bikes. It has a bit of slope, so it’s easy to get some speed up.

“Down the middle we have two dirt jump lines, one easier and one harder, with a series of table-top, jumps up to 1200 mm high.

“Both have a berm that turn them into a slip lane, so riders can safely slipstream back onto the outside track.

“We’ve also got little berms that help you generate pace to get up the hill, which makes the uphill section fun.

“Whether you’re on a scooter with 4-inch wheels or a mountain bike with 29-inch wheels, it’s fun to roll around and it’s fantastic to see the kids out here having a good time.”

The $127,000 Tarcutta Bike Jump and Pump Track was funded by the NSW Government ClubGRANTS Category 3 Infrastructure Grants program ($87,000) and Wagga Wagga City Council ($40,000).