Locals jump the gun at Kingsford Smith Reserve as Ballina’s new competition-grade pump track nears its formal opening.

Ballina’s long-awaited pump track has had an early debut, with locals flocking to Kingsford Smith Reserve over the weekend despite keep-out signs and temporary fencing still in place.

The facility, expected to be formally opened later this week, drew families who made the most of the warm summer weather.

A missing panel in the perimeter fencing saw a steady stream of riders enter the site in recent days, keen to test the new track ahead of time.

Ballina Shire Council has said additional time is required for tree plantings and environmental works to establish before the precinct is officially signed off. 

Even so, the buzz around the project has been building since work began six months ago.

A major addition to the Kingsford Smith Reserve precinct

A pump track is a purpose-built riding circuit of smooth mounds and banked turns that lets cyclists, scooter riders and skateboarders build momentum by shifting their weight instead of pedalling.

Work on the project started in May, transforming the southern end of Kingsford Smith Reserve into what Council described as a “vibrant recreational precinct”. 

The $1 million project is jointly funded by Ballina Shire Council and a $733,345 contribution from the NSW Government.

Built to national qualifier event standards, the facility is eligible to host rounds of the pump track world championship series. 

It includes a competition-level track, a junior track, an advanced alternate line, and a surrounding spectator precinct with shelters, seating, bike stands, drinking fountains, a workstation, and landscaped areas.

The pump track was identified as a priority in the Kingsford Smith Reserve Master Plan adopted in 2021 following extensive community consultation.