On Wednesday, dignitaries and riders alike congregated at the Packham St complex for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting of a 12-month-long project delivered through the Victorian Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.
A brand-new two-storey pavilion serves as the precinct’s pièce de résistance, offering sweeping views of the track and premium broadcasting opportunities.
Down below, the BMX track has been resurfaced, while the five and eight metre starting hills have been revamped.
Next door, the adjacent cycling velodrome has also received 300 lux upgraded lights to support night training and more competition.
But the facility is more than the sum of its jumps, pumps and berms.
There’s a kind of civic pride that blooms in the wake of Wednesday’s announcement and there to open the new facility was Community Sport Minister Ros Spence.
“This is a really important investment ... it's doing what was needed,” Spence said.
“It makes it a real destination. We know that whenever there’s good pavilions, good facilities, they're a draw card for the community to get involved in sport, which is really important.
“But they also make it possible to have bigger events and draw people from right across the country.”
The Packham St venue has a track record of hosting elite events such as the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in 2020 and the recently-unveiled facility is hoped to jump-start the international racing heartbeat in the Goulburn Valley.
A snub on the proposal for regional Victoria — including Shepparton — to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games left a sting when it was announced two years ago, but City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali was elated to see rolling commitments to the region arrive from the Victorian Government.
“This is an exciting day, it’s an exciting progression in sport and health and wellbeing, and I’m grateful to play a small part in it alongside our deputy mayor and councillor that are with me today,” he said.
“Well done to all involved, we appreciate your ongoing commitment — this is the start of another exciting journey.
“We welcome further announcements to our sporting precinct as well.”
With council pressing for further investment in the region, namely Shepparton Sports Stadium, Spence said “funding for any project would come out of one of our competitive grants programs and that's why I'd be encouraging council to consider the regional community sports infrastructure fund”.
As for the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program, the upgraded Shepparton BMX Track and Cycling Precinct was the first of 16 projects to be completed.
It couldn’t have come at a better time, either.
This weekend, the first and second rounds of the AusCycling 2025 BMX Racing National Series will arrive at the venue, welcoming the sleek whir of tires on tarmac from Australia’s best riders — and adrenaline-fuelled fanfare to match.
The event will draw hundreds to the track, but extending beyond the weekend, the new facility will cater to the next crop of Shepparton talent hoping to reach the pinnacle of two-wheeled racing.
