Nicola Rutzou
At a time when race venues are rapidly disappearing, there was some great news with a new cycling track opening in Brisbane. The Brisbane International Cycle Park at Murarrie Recreation Reserve, affectionately known as ‘Muzz’, is a 34-hectare facility with a road cycling course, international criterium track, inline skating track, new clubhouse and viewing mounds. Rather than a brand new location, it’s a refurbishment of the original facility that has been the home of Balmoral Cycling Club for many years.
It didn’t happen overnight. It took five years for the dedicated group of Balmoral CC volunteers, together with community partner Speedzone Roller Sports Club, to work alongside Brisbane City Council to pull it off.
Balmoral CC has called Muzz home since 1988, with a license for Saturday morning racing since 1988. The club, founded in 1946, had a parcel of land in Hawthorne Park and built its first circuit there, which opened in 1948. In 1988, the council resumed the land at Hawthorne Park in exchange for Balmoral’s licenced use of the new circuit at Murarrie. The Reserve was originally a rubbish tip before being redeveloped for Archery during the 1982 Commonwealth Games. Over the years, Balmoral invested in a clubhouse and upgrades to the racing surface before the major redevelopment commenced in January 2023.
Balmoral CC President Andy Moore said, “The potential to redevelop Muzz was first floated in 2019. Balmoral had a vision for a “wheeled-sports precinct”, free of ball sports, which aren’t compatible with cycling! We had a lot of interest from footy and soccer clubs but chose to partner with Speedzone Roller Sports Club. We came up with a circuit that incorporated a world-championship spec speedskating circuit, along with a large “inner U loop” for the main criterium circuit. This provides different circuit configurations for racing and fills the infield ensuring it would only be a wheeled sports precinct. Brisbane City Council understood the vision and got behind it. Their team project managed and delivered the whole project brilliantly.”
The Queensland Government, in association with Brisbane City Council, funded the new multi-purpose clubhouse, and the Australian government fully funded the car park.
Moore says Muzz is important for his club and other community members, saying, “Muzz is critical, not only as a racing venue but as one of only two criterium circuits in Brisbane where cyclists can train without traffic. It’s also essential to deliver Balmoral’s junior development program where juniors (under 9 and up) can learn how to ride and race their bike in a safe, supportive, fun environment. With the addition of the inner speedskating circuit, our juniors can now participate in their junior development program while senior racing is in progress. For decades, the juniors had to ride on the grass infield while senior racing was on.”
Speaking about the challenges the cycling club encountered during the development period, Moore commented, “Like most clubs, the heavy lifting is done by a small group of volunteers doing their best to provide quality racing opportunities for all riders. Not having a home base for 95 weeks was extraordinarily challenging, with a range of complex issues that have taken countless volunteer hours to resolve. For any club embarking on this process, don’t underestimate the impact of not having those weekly interactions and engagement opportunities with members and others in the community – the small, large, informal and formal catch-ups and meetings onsite before, during and after a Saturday club crit.
“We were also lucky to have excellent long-term financial stewardship within the Club, which enabled us to keep delivering our major events and sports investments during the past two years despite not having regular income from weekly club racing,” he added.
The second phase of the project will include light towers, a pump track, and a learn-to-ride area. The lights will allow training and racing to take place at night.
Photo credit: Mat Gilfedder
