Council
22 July, 2026
Community divided on pump truck location
Residents of Murrumbateman are divided on where to place a proposed pump track with Yass Valley Council set to consider the controversial issue at its July meeting on Thursday (July 23).
Residents of Murrumbateman are divided on where to place a proposed pump track with Yass Valley Council set to consider the controversial issue at its July meeting on Thursday (July 23).
Staff have recommended that council endorse the site of the southern sand arena within the Murrumbateman Recreation Grounds “because it consolidates community recreational sporting infrastructure within an established, high-amenity hub”.
A report prepared for Thursday’s meeting says that by integrating the pump track into a precinct already guided by the Murrumbateman Recreation Ground Strategic Plan, “council avoids the risks of ad-hoc development, maximises shared community use and delivers a safe, accessible and strategically sound asset that aligns with long-term community expectations”.
The other sites considered were the Murrumbateman Common and Hawthorn.
A Murrumbateman Pump Track Location Survey conducted from August last year through to July this year indicated the community was clearly divided on the issue with 127 responses (46.7 per) in favour of Hawthorn and 125 responses (46 per cent) in favour of the Murrumbateman Recreation Ground.
Twenty responses (7.4 per cent) favoured Murrumbateman Common.
A Murrumbateman Bike Track Strategic Analysis Report concluded that Hawthorn and the Murrumbateman Common presented opportunities for future recreational development but were constrained by “higher costs, lower accessibility and reduced short-term viability”.
It recommended that council proceed with detailed design and delivery of the pump track at the Murrumbateman Recreation Ground “subject to flood mitigation considerations and stakeholder coordination”.
Six people addressed council on the issue at Tuesday’s public forum - three in favour and three against.
Opponents pointed to the lack of a Murrumbateman Masterplan and the impact of the proposed location on existing users, suggesting that members of the equestrian community were being discriminated against given that the sand arena was still in use.
Proponents told council there was an obvious need and strong community support for a pump track and it was a project that would benefit the wider community.
Speaking against the staff recommendation, long-term Murrumbateman resident Stephanie Helm said infrastructure needed to be well-planned and it needed to cater for people of different interests.
With no Masterplan, she said individual groups could dictate what happens.
“That’s how you create conflict.”
Mrs Helm said there was no urgency to proceed with the project before a Masterplan was in place.
“Enthusiasm to get on with it shouldn’t justify a rushed decision,” she said at Tuesday’s forum.
Mrs Helm encouraged councillors not to respond “to the loudest voice”.
“Please unite this community and don’t divide it,” she said.
Speaking in favour of the staff recommendation, Matt Baker said people not involved with horses didn’t have a recreational facility in Murrumbateman.
“I think this is a no-brainer,” he told councillors.
“Everyone will benefit from this recreation facility.”
Mr Baker said council had been telling bike track proponents for the past 30 years that “we don’t have somewhere to put this”.
“Now we do,” he said.
Mr Baker said it would be the first time in Australia that a community group delivered a pump track.
He said the Murrumbateman Pump Track Club had feet on the ground and was “ready to roll”.
· Thursday’s meeting of Yass Valley Council will be in the new Crago Mill Council Chambers commencing at 4pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
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