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A grassroots campaign for cycling infrastructure south of Cairns has led to the construction of a pump track at Babinda.
The campaign was kickstarted by riding enthusiasts Leon Schep and Max Barton, whose parents spent much of their weekends carpooling the kids to ride bike tracks in Cairns.
The boys and their mothers, Julie Schep and Lisa Buckley, started a local petition two years ago to gauge local interest.
They presented their case to the Babinda Chamber of Commerce, winning over Councillor Brett Moller in the process.
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The $130,000 Babinda Pump Track was officially opened last weekend at Bill Wakeham Park, where Leon and Max were on hand to cut the cake.
“After seeing their PowerPoint presentation and talking to them in person, I took the idea to Council officers and my fellow Councillors and we got it into the forward budgets,” said Cr Moller.
“By applying the full allocation of my discretionary fund last financial year, we have been able to deliver this project for Babinda and the district."
Featuring 300-metres of bends, jumps and bumps it’s already proving a hit for both beginners and those seeking a higher level of difficulty.
“You want a track that lets the smaller kids, who are just starting out, learn and explore the skills safely, but you also want a track for the more experienced riders to come back time and again and try new tricks,” Cr Moller said.
“It is important to get the balance of safety, flow and fun right – I think we’ve achieved that with this track.”
The track is close to other facilities, including a basketball court, skate park, amenities, and plenty of wide-open space.
To read more about the region's riding culture, check out the Ride FNQ cover story feature in the latest issue of Tropic magazine.
Main points
- The Babinda Pump Track has opened following a grassroots community campaign
- It was spearheaded by Leon Schep, Max Barton and their mothers
- Cr Brett Moller used his discretionary fund for the $130,000 facility
