MEDIA RELEASE
$10.5 million and Bagot Park is no more
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Cynthia Last
15th April 2020 Coordinator Friends of Bagot Park
Mobile: 0439 626 730
Email: friendsofbagotpark@yahoo.comSummary:
• $10.5million allocated to replace the Velodrome at Bagot Park
• Planned mass infrastructure will significantly reduce accessibility to open public green space hence, at risk of no longer being a recreational park
• Relocate the Velodrome and Cycling Precinct to a more appropriate sporting environment
The Friends of Bagot Park call upon the City of Darwin and the Northern Territory Government (NTG) to reconsider their plans to develop Bagot Park into a Cycling Precinct and to withhold any further decisions until a feasibility and environmental impact study is undertaken.
The City of Darwin received $10.5m NTG funding to build a new Australian National standard velodrome at Bagot Park. The new velodrome is designed to be the centrepiece of a Cycling Precinct, which will comprise a 780m x 3m concrete or asphalt criterium racetrack, a bike skills dirt track 4m to 8m wide and a 370m x 2m pump track.
Additionally, the City of Darwin Council has prioritised infrastructure projects for Football Federation NT and Mindil Aces Football Club to build facilities that include a clubroom with male and female change rooms, an operations room, referees’ change room and a storage area. To accommodate extra vehicles using the cycling precinct, an additional 30-40 vehicle car park is planned. Plans also depict the removal of all trees in the existing car park to provide a maximum number of car parking spaces.
A combined spend of more than $12m on facilities and buildings will result in the loss of open public green space and the loss of trees. Tonnes of concrete, asphalt and bitumen poured onto our green space will affect the health and wellbeing of everyone who enjoys the park for recreation and relaxation as the parkland is a buffer from traffic noise and pollution from two arterial roads. Furthermore, this development will have dire consequences for our resident wildlife and migrating birds as Bagot Park is a green wildlife corridor for seasonal visitors like Magpie Geese, Cockatoos, Goshawks and Curlews.
$10m is one-third of the NTG’s Coronavirus stimulus package for NT home owners and equivalent to costs incurred in building the Nightcliff Renal Unit, which is a lifesaving facility. In perspective, the tender awarded for the government-funded grandstand at the Darwin Turf Club was $12m, and, in consideration of our current economic climate, $10m would create 210 full-time jobs for COVID-19 unemployed persons.
The plan to change Bagot Park into a Cycling Precinct was not based on a feasibility or environmental impact study. The decision was based on the needs of NT cycling organisations. Friends of Bagot Park believe that these cycling facilities should be located in a more suitable, established sporting environment where NT Cycling organisations conduct National and International events, not in a green space valued by the Darwin community.
The Friends of Bagot Park Coordinator, Cynthia Last says, “A suburban park such as Bagot Park must provide open green space for the local and wider community to use for recreation and leisure activities. A place to exercise their dogs, enjoy family recreational activities and to have a pleasant safe place to walk and wind down after work. We want our park to be beautified with a shared path, verge planting, landscaping with trees native to the area and bollards to ensure pedestrian safety and to protect the verge.”
Please become a friend on our Facebook page, Friends of Bagot Park, and sign our petition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2144134709163017/
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Background Information
Friends of Bagot Park formed three years ago to promote, protect and enhance the environmental, cultural and aesthetic values of the area bounded by McMillans Road, Bagot Road, Old McMillans Road and Sabine Road at Bagot Park and surrounding parklands. We aim to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of Bagot Park by residents and the Darwin community.
We have been lobbying the City of Darwin and NTG for the past two years to consider a ‘Whole of Park Plan for Bagot Park’ so that activation and development of Bagot Park is aligned with the needs of the Darwin community.
A timeline of our lobbying efforts can be provided.
Also attached is a Concept Map for the Velodrome and elements for the Cycling Precinct.
Promoting, Protecting and Enhancing the environmental, cultural and aesthetic values of Bagot Park
Download the Media Release here: https://planinc.org.au/http://planinc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020FriendsofBagotParkMediaRelease150420.pdf
