Colo Heights Primary School in Hawkesbury launched a new modified BMX track on 16 October for school children participating in the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program, thanks to huge support from local community groups and businesses.

Parents of the school assisted in the project, helping to develop and build the modified BMX track, while local businesses and manufacturers supplied the materials and tools to get the job done as part of a tremendous team effort.

The new BMX track will enable kids to hone their cycling skills and to learn some tricks and get some air, as part of a popular sport, which is taking off in the local community.
BMX riding skills are being taught through the AASC program at Colo Heights Primary School, which began in 2011 due to popular demand.

In February 2011, Regional Coordinator for the AASC program, Rebecca Webb, met with the students at the school to discuss what AASC sports activities they would like to participate in. BMX and mountain biking were by far their most popular choices.

In response the Principal of Colo Heights Primary School at the time, Mr Glen Leaf, indicated that he was enthusiastic in launching the program. Due to the remote location of the site, Leaf and Webb felt it was essential for the program to focus on bike safety and to include both cycling disciplines.

The school has been offering BMX and mountain biking on a regular basis since the first pilot program was launched in Term 4, 2011.

Due to the strong interest in the program from both the children and their parents, Leaf and Webb have taken the pathways action plan one step further by giving the children the ultimate experience of riding on a BMX track.

Extensive planning went into establishing this BMX program, including coordinating the purchase of new bikes through a Special Initiatives Grant (SIG). One parent has even been begun planning the construction of a bike shed which will house the new BMX bikes. 

A SIG helped fund the school’s inaugural Hawkesbury ‘Track Active Day’ and this event led to the planning and development of the Colo Heights modified BMX track which was completed this month. 

In addition, Leaf helped to promote the program through the school’s newsletter and to minimise inconvenience for parents by providing the option for their kids to leave their bikes onsite and in a secure location.

Establishing links and relationships between the AASC program and local cycling and BMX clubs has  also been crucial to the success of the program given this was the first time a site in the Hawkesbury region had run a bike program.