Pump Track official opening at Apex Adventure Island

Published on 03 April 2019

Upgrades to Horsham’s Apex Adventure Island will be officially opened on Sunday 7 April.

While the pump track has been operating for almost 12 months, the completion of landscaping at the island has put the finishing touches on the project.

The pump track is a BMX circuit of banked turns and humps where riders create momentum through up-and-down body movements.

It has turned into a tourist attraction, with crowds of children on scooters and bicycles using the track during weekends and school holidays.

The joint partnership project also includes access paths, seating, shade, environmental restoration and a separate activity area on the eastern end of the island.

Project partners included Horsham Apex Club, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, Wimmera River Improvement Committee, Barengi Gadjin Land Council, NeXus Horsham while GWMWater contributed a water fountain at the site.

Development and construction of the island took place for the entire period of 2018, with the remainder of the landscaping completed in early 2019.

Mayor Mark Radford said Horsham Apex Club had done a tremendous job since first proposing the development four years ago. 

“The Apex Club have been determined to get the job done since discussions about the development started back in 2015,” Cr Radford said.

“There were important considerations along the way including environmental and cultural factors. The Wimmera CMA was constantly involved for their expertise as we were working on a flood plain.

“The Apex Club raised money to purchase the pump track and a landscaper was also consulted to ensure that the vision of a shared space for young and old was achieved.

"As a Council, we were delighted to contribute  funding and planning support for the project. Developing a safe, active and healthy community is a key part of our Council Plan and we know that activating the Wimmera River precinct is a key priority for our community,” he said.