Cockburn Council has endorsed a $6.88m construction tender for the long-awaited Malabar Park BMX facility redevelopment in Bibra Lake.
Council says the revamped facility will be capable of hosting national-level events.
A contract for its construction has been awarded to MG Group (Menchetti Consolidated Pty Ltd).
The facility’s key user, Cockburn BMX Club, will benefit from a new racing track with a 5-metre start ramp and a new clubroom.
“The proposal was endorsed by Council as part of the Community, Sport and Recreation Facilities Plan in 2018 including concept designs for a new track, clubroom building, start ramp, offices and lighting,” said Council Head of Recreation, Andrew Tomlinson.
“The project had progressed through a number of hurdles, seeking endorsement from the Contaminated Sites Auditor and applying for funding, with further unfortunate delays and cost increases caused by the pandemic to contend with.”
The redeveloped site, which will be open for broader community use, will also include a
car park, lighting, pump track, playground, barbecue facilities and a public toilet, plus storage space for future tenant, local charity Friends of the Community.
The Friends of the Community, which was named Community Volunteer Organisation
of the Year at the 2023 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards, is a Cockburn-based organisation that provides food at local events, and donates 100% of profits to the community.
Work is scheduled for completion by December 2024 and funding includes a $100,000 grant from the State Government’s Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund for floodlighting.
Cockburn BMX Club will provide a $20,000 contribution upon the project’s completion.
“We’re very happy to finally see this shovel-ready project at a stage where work can begin converting a previous landfill site into a co-located facility set to benefit a broad range of uses,” said Mr Tomlinson.
“The new facility will benefit the whole community, particularly local up and coming BMX enthusiasts primed for the opening of what will be a high-quality regional facility able to host national-level events that will help the sport grow even further,” he said.