Gallipoli Park Pump Track and Recreation Development Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

ABOUT ACTIVE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Active Community Infrastructure is an initiative under the Queensland Government’s Activate! Queensland 10-year Strategy to get more Queenslanders moving more often. Activate! Queensland’s success indicators for the Activate Environments priority area:

Places and spaces to support physical activity for everyone
Increased access to physical activity facilities
Fit-for-purpose places and spaces for physical activity
Collaborations improving community physical activity outcomes

The initiative will deliver around 150 infrastructure projects to benefit Queensland communities over the next three years. The initiative aims to:

Improve accessibility and provide a greater range of functionality and adaptability of places and spaces
Increase opportunities for individuals and communities to use places and spaces

HOW IS THE PROJECT FUNDED?

Mount Isa City Council submitted an expression of interest for the Gallipoli Park Pump Track and Recreation Development under the Queensland Government's Active Community Infrastructure Funding Stream. The project was endorsed by the State and a 100% contribution of $895,000 (excl. GST) awarded to Council for the project.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT?

The Project focused around the development of a pump track and will include a range of complementary ancillary equipment.

Key elements proposed:

Asphalt pump track
"Pedal park" track for young children and families
Free exercise equipment
Shaded seating
Barbecue areas
Amenities
Fencing
Lighting
CCTV
Art space
Landscaping and beautification including significant landscaped buffers to soften the impact on surrounding allotments

WHY WAS THIS LOCATION CHOSEN?

A number of locations were considered and assessed for viability under the following criteria.

Criteria 1

Under the Mount Isa City Council Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP), Council’s Public Parks and Land for Community Facilities are all allocated special ‘infrastructure types’ which dictate the level of service Council are committed to achieving for each location. Gallipoli Park South is classified as a ‘Local Recreation Park’ that should strive to meet the following standards:

Fencing/bollards
Seating
Shade structures
Covered seating and tables
Tab/bubbler
Bins
Activity areas

This LGIP also specifies that a ‘Local Recreation Park’ must be:

Accessible within 0.5km
Be at least 0.8 hectares per 1000 people
Be a minimum of 0.5 hectares
Have at least 20% of the area be a maximum 1:10 gradient
Contain 0% of the land area within the 1 in 100 year Annual Recurrence Interval for flood inundation

Criteria 2

Park developments also require assessment against the City of Mount Isa Planning Scheme. Some of the key performance criteria which present a challenge in most locations include:

Council will be required to meet acoustic quality objectives set out in the Environmental Protection (Noise) Policy 2008, for any residential properties within the vicinity
Provision of solid fencing and 2m wide landscape buffer where the park shares a boundary with a residential allotment
Minimum of 15m setback of the development to any residential allotment
Development is setback 6m from the road reserve on all boundaries and has a 2m densely planted landscape buffer
Maximum of 5% site coverage for developed area
Minimum 80% of site retains soft landscaping
Stormwater drainage (either the site to have a slight grade or have direct access to stormwater main)
Access to site is safe and convenient and has sufficient parking

Criteria 3

To best suit the objectives of the funding, Council targeted suburbs that did not already possess, or had limited, activities areas/equipment to provide accessible recreation opportunities across the city, not just the CBD.

Site Selection

As the site that was able to most adequately address nearly all criteria, Gallipoli Park was chosen as the preferred location. Other sites considered include:

Tharrapatha Way – deemed unsuitable due to flood inundation and access issues; and
Lions Park – deemed unfeasible due to:
- Size restrictions – allotment is only 9,422m2 and development would cover approximately 25 to 30% of the area which does not meet any of the Planning Scheme requirements
- Access & parking – limited pedestrian access, no existing parking
- Safety – located directly adjacent a dedicated National Heavy Vehicle Route.

Gallipoli Park is located in the suburb of Soldiers Hill and consists of 2 sections, North and South, with a total area of 58,580m2. The chosen allotment, Gallipoli Park South is 26,330m2, with between 5 and 10% expected to be utilised by the development footprint if deemed acceptable under the development assessment. The site also contains existing parking and pedestrian access with sufficient areas to provide additional parking if required in the future. The site also has optimal terrain and access to services.

Gallipoli Park has a high residential population with easy access to the park, who will not need to travel far from home to enjoy a variety of activities.

I AM A NEIGHBOUR – HOW WILL I BE AFFECTED?

Local residents will generally ride their bicycles and scooters to the area. The increase in users may attract more people from outside the area. Noise from riding facilities are generally minimal given the materials and equipment used. Council are aiming to exceed the City of Mount Isa Planning Scheme boundary setback requirements by providing a minimum of 20m setback from residential properties and the provision of dense landscaping buffers. Additionally, a formal noise survey and modelling will be undertaken prior to detailed design to ensure that the development is not adversely impacting the residential allotments and that all legislated requirements are being met. Any noise generated will be from user enjoyment.

WHAT SECURITY MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN?

Great consideration has been given to the security of the park and its users. The park follows principles of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) an initiative developed by the National Crime Prevention Council.

Natural Surveillance and Sight Lines

Landscaping buffers will be implemented strategically to ensure that the developed area is still clearly visible from inbound lanes approaching the park boundaries in the vicinity of the development.

PARKING

Gallipoli Park South has an existing 51-space car park located in Thorpe Street, which is in close proximity to the proposed development. Council will be implementing traffic control devices to limit disruption to the residential streets and any ongoing issues will be addressed.

WHAT IS A PUMP TRACK?

A pump track is a circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed with the rider ‘pumping’ and generating momentum with up and down body movements, instead of pedaling or pushing.

Pump tracks were originally designed for the mountain bike and BMX scenes, but they are also used by skateboard and scooter riders and are generally accessible to wheelchairs. Pump tracks are relatively simple to use and cater to a wide variety of rider skill levels.

BMX (Bicycle Motocross) is a sport run by clubs affiliated with BMX Australia or BMX Queensland. Each club maintains their own facility and usually, the track is constructed from dirt and will only have one have one track with a start and a finish. Skate parks are a combination of concrete bowls and ramps designed for skateboarding.

Pump tracks are designed to allow the user to take various directions or paths throughout the course.

HAVE YOUR SAY

There are two concept designs for the exercise area, and Council invites locals to choose which design they prefer. The option that receives the most votes will be the version that will be constructed.

Please click here to choose your preferred design

WHAT THE NEW PUMP TRACK MAY LOOK LIKE*

Gallipoli Park design 2

* Image is for illustrative purposes only