Working towards reopening Helensburgh Mountain Bike Park

Wollongong City Council is making progress to resolve the asbestos found at Helensburgh Mountain Bike Park, and is working closely with the licensee Helensburgh Off Road Cycle Club (HORCC) on the next steps for the facility.

We’re currently working through site remediation approval processes with the regulator, so while we’re getting closer to being able to reopen, we’re not there yet.

We’re asking community members to work with us and put their safety first and to stay outside the site fencing at Helensburgh Mountain Bike Park.

Council met with representative members of HORCC this week, and together we are working through the next steps that would allow the Park to reopen to community.

It’s important we get this right, after asbestos fragments have been found in multiple locations across the site. Council closed the Park to investigate the makeup of soil material on the site’s dirt tracks. Regular air monitoring has been in place, and an independent auditor was tasked with investigating the level of contamination at the site, and providing recommendations on its long-term management.

“We have reports confirming the presence of asbestos right across the site,’’ Wollongong City Council’s Manager Open Space + Environmental Services Paul Tracey said.

“Unfortunately, there seems to be some misinformation in the community that there may have been one or two fragments at this site.

“Council has comprehensive laboratory results and reporting from an independent expert that has confirmed the presence of asbestos fragments right across the 2.3ha site. This is something we take very seriously as it’s a question of community safety. No bike ride is worth that risk. Now we have the detailed reports, we are focused on finding the right solution to make the site safe before it can be re-opened to the public to enjoy.’’

The Helensburgh Off Road Cycle Club operate the land under a licence, and Council continues to work with Club representatives to manage the safety of the site and the presence of asbestos at the site.  The track will remain closed while the clean-up is completed and we are keen to see the site returned to the community as quickly as possible.

Should anyone see people entering the site, they should contact Council on 4227 7111 or NSW Police.

See also: Media Release: Helensburgh Mountain Bike Park Statement - May 2023