The governing body for Australian cycling, AusCycling, has publicly criticized the New South Wales (NSW) government, accusing it of “failing” to preserve Dunc Gray Velodrome, the state’s only indoor velodrome. In a strongly worded statement released Thursday, AusCycling warned that the government’s neglect of this historic Olympic facility could seriously impact Australia’s preparations for upcoming Olympics, including the Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Games. According to AusCycling, the NSW government’s decision to transfer full responsibility for the velodrome to local council has thrown the future of the site—and the state’s elite cycling training—into question.
The New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS), which has managed track cycling programs at Dunc Gray Velodrome for years, recently announced its plans to discontinue the program due to uncertainty about the velodrome’s future. This decision has left many elite athletes in a difficult position, with limited options for training. Built to host the cycling events for the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Dunc Gray Velodrome is the only indoor facility of its kind in NSW, making it crucial to the training of the state’s top able-bodied and para-athletes.
In its statement, AusCycling expressed disappointment that NSWIS’s track program would be coming to an end and called out the NSW government for its lack of support, which it says has led to “a failure to secure the future of the state’s only indoor velodrome.” AusCycling noted that transferring the responsibility for maintaining the velodrome to the Canterbury-Bankstown Council, set to take effect in March 2025, would create significant financial strain on the local government, which now faces the task of making major operational and funding decisions for the venue.
Dunc Gray Velodrome, located in Bass Hill, holds a place in Australian sports history. It was here that Australian cyclists Scott McGrory and Brett Aitken won gold in the men’s madison event during the Sydney 2000 Olympics, capturing a victory that would be remembered as one of the high points of the Games. The venue was named after Edgar “Dunc” Gray, Australia’s first Olympic cycling gold medalist, who won his title in Los Angeles in 1932. Opening in November 1999, less than a year before the Sydney Games, Dunc Gray Velodrome cost approximately $42 million to build, funded by the NSW government. However, since then, the government has significantly scaled back its support, ultimately deciding to transfer management and operational responsibilities to the Canterbury-Bankstown Council.
With the future of the velodrome uncertain, AusCycling warns that NSW may be left without a critical indoor facility. The organization also stressed that it has been in regular discussions with Canterbury-Bankstown Council, who now face immense financial and logistical challenges to keep the venue viable. This uncertainty has cast a shadow over NSW’s track cycling prospects, especially with the Los Angeles Games just four years away and the Brisbane Olympics less than a decade out. AusCycling expressed frustration that, amid these challenges, NSWIS has been forced to wind down its track cycling program, leaving athletes without a dedicated training venue or program. For top-level able-bodied and para-cyclists, this is a significant blow that disrupts years of training and preparation and threatens to slow the development of emerging talent in the sport.
AusCycling’s CEO, Marne Fechner, voiced deep concern over the potential impact of losing the velodrome, calling it “a terrible outcome for Australia’s most populous state.” Fechner pointed out that if the velodrome’s future remains uncertain, NSW could become the only state in Australia without an indoor cycling facility, a scenario she described as unacceptable for a state of NSW’s size and prominence. “If this facility continues to be ignored and de-prioritized, NSW risks becoming the only state in Australia without an indoor velodrome, which would be a terrible outcome,” Fechner stated. She emphasized that AusCycling is eager to work with the NSW government, the Canterbury-Bankstown Council, and other stakeholders to “chart a sustainable future for the velodrome and elite training programs,” but stressed that action must be taken soon.
The NSW Office of Sport, which currently operates and manages Dunc Gray Velodrome under a management agreement with the City of Canterbury-Bankstown, provided a brief response to the growing controversy. “Dunc Gray Velodrome is owned by the City of Canterbury-Bankstown,” the Office of Sport said in a statement, adding, “The Office of Sport operates and manages the venue under a management agreement with council, which ends on 31 March 2025. The Office of Sport is currently engaging with the City of Canterbury-Bankstown on the future management arrangements.”
AusCycling has underscored that with no clear plan from the NSW government to preserve or update the velodrome, NSWIS’s decision to discontinue its program leaves many athletes in an uncertain position. Additionally, the lack of a world-class training facility could have far-reaching consequences for the development of Australian cycling talent, potentially limiting Australia’s future Olympic and Paralympic prospects. For athletes who have already invested years of training in the velodrome, this news represents a considerable setback that disrupts training routines and forces difficult decisions about relocation or the search for alternative training venues in other states.
The City of Canterbury-Bankstown Council, which will assume sole ownership of the venue in 2025, has yet to issue a statement regarding its plan for the facility. The council is now tasked with deciding whether it can afford the considerable costs associated with maintaining a venue of Dunc Gray’s size and scope. Without support from the state, the financial burden could limit the council’s ability to keep the velodrome open and operating at an elite level.
In addition to the financial strain on local government, the venue’s uncertain status raises larger questions about NSW’s commitment to supporting Olympic-level facilities and infrastructure. With Sydney having hosted the Olympic Games just over two decades ago, the potential closure of an iconic venue like Dunc Gray Velodrome has reignited debate about the legacy and long-term benefits of Olympic investments. For many within Australia’s sports community, this situation represents an unfortunate reminder of how quickly sports facilities can fall by the wayside when regular funding and support are absent.
AusCycling’s statement reflects a larger concern within Australia’s athletic community that without a strong commitment from the NSW government, the future of Olympic training in the state could be at risk. As the dispute unfolds, AusCycling, NSWIS, and other advocates for Australian cycling continue to urge the NSW government to reconsider its stance, invest in Dunc Gray Velodrome, and support the next generation of Australian athletes. The hope is that a resolution will be reached to preserve this historic site, which has served as a home for champions and a foundation for Olympic dreams.
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