ACT GOVERNMENT BUDGET SUBMISSION - PRESENTED BY AUSCYCLING LTD - Budget Consultation
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2021-22
ACT GOVERNMENT
BUDGET SUBMISSION
PRESENTED BY
AUSCYCLING LTD
JUNE 2021
AusCycling acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the Ngunnawal land on which we live.
We pay respect to Elder’s past, present and emerging and acknowledge the important role
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play within our community.
AusCycling is pleased to provide a submission to ACT Government
for public consultation for the 2021-2022 ACT Budget.
The unprecedented resurgence of the popularity of cycling during
the COVID19 pandemic reinforced how central bike riding is to the
Australian way of life.
Cycling became more integral to daily life in Australia, with more
people working and studying from home. More families
experienced the beauty of nature exploring the city parks or cycling
trails, while spending quality time together through bike riding.
Riding for exercise increased, with the pausing of team sports and
the shutdown of exercise venues. Moreover, anxiety of using public
transport made cycling a viable option for socially distant travel.
As the peak body in Australia responsible for the development,
facilitation and growth of all forms of cycling, AusCycling was
established in November 2020, through the merger of 18 separate
organisations. We are uniquely positioned to represent the sport
for the future and provide enhanced services to clubs, riders,
officials, volunteers and the entire cycling eco-system.
AusCycling’s vision is to unlock cycling’s potential and inspire
Australia to become a nation of bike riders – be it for leisure,
commuting, racing and just for fun. We also advocate for riders’
safety, establish strong club communities and make all forms of
cycling accessible to all.
We welcome your consideration of our submission and the
recommendations proposed. AusCycling also looks forward
to working with the ACT Government and other stakeholders
to keep cycling front and centre of the Australian lifestyle.
Regards,
Marne Fechner
CEO
AusCycling Ltd
2021-22 ACT Government Budget Submission 1
ABOUT
AUSCYCLING
AusCycling is the National Sporting Organisation responsible for
the development, facilitation and growth of all forms of cycling in
Australia, formed by an amalgamation of MTBA, BMXA and
Cycling Australia (CA) and the 15 State Sporting Organisations.
Established in November 2020, AusCycling is uniquely positioned
to represent the sport for the future and to provide enhanced
services to clubs, riders, officials and volunteers.
AusCycling currently represents over 54,000 members and 400
cycling clubs across BMX, BMX Freestyle, Cyclo-Cross, E-Sport,
Mountain Bike, Para-Cycling, Road, Track and Lifestyle
(recreational and commuter) riders throughout Australia forming
one of Australia’s largest cycling communities. Representing all
levels of the sport from grassroots to high performance.
Our vision is to unlock cycling’s potential, advocate for riders’ safety,
establish strong club communities and make all forms of cycling
accessible to everyone.
As the national administrative body responsible for the sport of
cycling in Australia, AusCycling is recognised by:
• the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body
of cycling which groups together 197 National Federations.
• the Australian Government through Sport Australia
(formerly the Australian Sports Commission),
• the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), the Commonwealth
Games Australia (CGA) and the Paralympics Australia.
The international accreditation enables AusCycling to be the
conduit to bidding for hosting rights to world championship in all
disciplines (as an example, the Road World Championships to be
conducted in Wollongong in 2022), as well as partner on bids for
Commonwealth and Olympic Games (such as the 2032 Brisbane
Olympics bid).
In addition, this infrastructure is complementary to winning hosting
rights to National Championship events, this further drives an
economic agenda through major event acquisition, tourism
outcomes and jobs creation.
2021-22 ACT Government Budget Submission 2
AUSCYCLING
OPERATION
1. Education and Accreditation: AusCycling provides resources,
training courses and accreditation to Coaches, Instructors and
Officials.
2. Participation: AusCycling focuses on and supports participation
for all sectors of the community through:
• Ride Nation Schools. A National Bike Education Program that
is a fun and interactive learning experience that teaches young
people to develop their riding skills and confidence – supporting
kids in their independence and giving parents peace of mind.
• She Rides. An introductory riding program focused on fitness,
skills development and creating a social riding community
of women, with the aim to help women make riding part of their
everyday life.
• Ride Nation. The place where the cycling community comes
to connect, learn, improve, and have fun! Wherever you are on your
riding journey, Ride Nation is the marketplace for programs,
activities, events, and adventures that suit your needs.
• Come and Try. Where people new to cycling are able to try
different disciplines at club level.
3. Sport Development: AusCycling is responsible for administrating,
coordinating and the developing of all sport related programs and
includes domestic development camps, Junior travel programs, state
teams, international development camps, World Cup entries, World
Championship selection.
4. Major cycling events across Australia: AusCycling sanctions and
organises numerous National, State and local cycling events across
Australia, including BMX (Freestyle and Racing), Cyclo-Cross,
E-Sport, Mountain Bike, Para-Cycling, Road and Track.
5. Membership: AusCycling provides a range of membership types
to accommodate every rider’s requirements and discipline, which
includes Member Insurance 24/7 anywhere in the world.
The range of membership types are:
• Lifestyle membership. Tailored to individuals who want to ride
for leisure or enjoy the commute and are available via a
month-to-month no lock-in option.
• Off-Road Race Membership. For those who love to race and are
geared towards BMX, Mountain Bike and Cyclocross.
• Race All-Discipline. Suitable for the competitive type who enjoys
all sorts of riding. This membership package allows you to race;
Road, Track, MTB, BMX, Mountain Bike and Cyclocross.
2021-22 ACT Government Budget Submission 3BENEFITS
OF CYCLING
2021-22 ACT Government Budget Submission 4An unexpected but positive outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic has been an emergence
of a bike riding boom, reinforcing how central to Australian life cycling is.
Lockdowns, social distancing and anxiety about using public transport has seen a shift in people turning
to or returning to their bikes in unprecedented numbers in Australia and globally.
Recent statistics show cycling levels in Australia have increased by 69% compared to pre-COVID levels.
Bike shops have reported soaring sales of new bikes while suppliers struggle to meet the record
demand as people across the country embrace the simple pleasure of riding their bikes.
During lockdown it became evident that through reduced vehicles usage, family and communities felt
safer to be out on their bikes, highlighting the need for well-planned, maintained and supported
infrastructure to better enable bike riding.
The immense health benefits of cycling include increased muscle strength, flexibility and strengthened
bones. Regular cycling also results in a stronger immune system, increased cardiovascular fitness,
decreased body fat and lowered risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
Stress and anxiety can be reduced by regular bike riding leading to better mental health and well-being.
To keep people fit, healthy, happy, and engaged with their bicycle and communities does however
require some will, planning and fit for purpose cycling policies and infrastructure.
The ACT more than most regions recognises the value that cycling provides the community.
The ACT Government’s aspiration is to establish Canberra and the region as Australia’s cycling
destination of choice. AusCycling is in a unique position to assist and support this aspiration.
The benefits of cycling are well documented, with many ACT government agencies pointing
to the economic, health and active transport benefits. As a snapshot, these include:
• CBR Cycle Tourism Strategy 2018
• Canberra Mountain bike Experience 2021
• Canberra Mountain Bike Report
• ACT Sport and Recreation Active 2020
• Active 2020 Strategic Plan
• 2020 Tourism Strategy
• Moving Canberra Integrated Transport Strategy
• ACT Transport Strategy 2020
• Transport Canberra Active Travel
• ACT Preventative Health Plan 2020-2025
• ACT Preventative Health Plan 2020-2025 3-year action plan 2020-2023
• ACT Wellbeing Framework
• ACT Climate Change Strategy 2019-25
• Zero emissions transport
• ACT Planning Strategy 2018
• ACT Infrastructure Plan 2021
2021-22 ACT Government Budget Submission 5PROPOSAL
2021-22 ACT Government Budget Submission 6Within the Parliamentary & Governing Agreement, 10th 6. Provide lighting, concrete apron and shade
Legislative Assembly, ACT Labour and ACT Greens have structures at the Narrabundah Velodrome.
provided election commitments and policy platform that are The time the facility can be utilised is brief once school /
policy priorities to progress this term, subject to budget work and daylight hours are considered. There is an
considerations, set out in Appendix 3, Sections 9.4 & 12.1 opportunity for this facility to be utilised to a far greater
and Appendix 4, Sections 6.1, 6.2, 22.1,22.2 & 22.3. extent. A concrete apron would improve rider safety
making it easier for beginners to use.
AusCycling already collaborates with the ACT Bicycle
Advisory Group (BAG) and the Stromlo Sports & 7. Establishment of an Asphalt 400-meter
Recreation User group. Within these groups there is Flat Track facility in Canberra.
approximately 15 ACT Government representatives with There is opportunity to establish a multi-function flat
different areas of responsibility. track on a decommissioned oval in a central area.
This provides a safe place to teach people to learn
Although the BAG does make headway it also highlights an to ride off-road and enables participation in a safe
issue - the ability to draw all these policy areas together to environment.
fully unlock the potential that cycling can bring to the
It also creates a place for aspiring athletes to complete
community can be challenging.
high-level interval and sprint training and learn to ride fix
gear track bicycles.
To assist with these aspirations AusCycling proposes the
following recommendations: A flat track is a facility that is able to cater for all types of
bikes (eg: a velodrome is specific to a track bike because
1. Finalise and implement the End-of-Trip Facilities of the banking and the bottom bracket requirements).
General Code to encourage improved bicycle
parking and end-of-trip facilities in commercial 8. Provide cycle track access to SFP from
developments. Molonglo River Corridor.
As a consequence of COVID-19 and the uptake of With the election commitment for SFP playing fields,
electric bikes this has increased in priority. If people bicycle (off-road) access to SFP will be required.
cannot easily transition from cycling attire to work attire it 9. Maintenance of the existing cycling track
becomes a barrier to engaging in active travel and the infrastructure, in particular cycling trunk routes.
cycling infrastructure up to that point.
This not only includes on-going repair to cycle track
2. Fund the Stromlo Forest Park (SFP) Better surfaces, but regular sweeping of the paths.
Infrastructure Review with the aim of progressing
the 5 Key Projects to Investment ready status By maintaining and enabling greater usage of existing
including finalising the SFP Masterplan. cycling infrastructure, we feel the community will benefit to
create safe spaces to improve skills and confidence in their
3. Fund the SFP Criterium Track extension / Bicycle bike riding, capitalising on the huge uptake of bike riding by
access to SFP (Criterium track to Uriarra Rd). beginners and families.
Given traffic demands from the Stromlo Leisure Centre
and other SFP users on Dave McInnes Road, it has This along with the development of Stromlo Forest Park as
impacted the ability to run cycling and triathlon events per the Masterplan will go a long way to achieving many of
from SFP. the ACT Government’s and community objectives.
4. Increase the maintenance budget for Stromlo In addition, through creating infrastructure necessary to bid
Forrest Park, SFP, trails by 30% to maintain the and host major events, this further drives an economic
existing mountain bike trails and facilities. agenda through major event acquisition, tourism outcomes
and jobs creation.
5. Provide lighting for the Criterium Circuit.
AusCycling is uniquely placed to partner on this agenda.
The utilisation of SFP can be greatly improved with
the installation of lighting. Facility use is limited once We look forward to working with the government and other
daylight-saving ends. stakeholders to ensure cycling continues to thrive and
remains at the centre of Australian lifestyle.
2021-22 ACT Government Budget Submission 7You can also read
