DEVASTATED: Cr David Morrison was disappointed by the State Government’s rejection of council’s funding application.

DEVASTATED: Cr David Morrison was disappointed by the State Government’s rejection of council’s funding application. Inga Williams

THE LNP State Government has given Ipswich a pre-election kick in the guts by refusing to fund the multi-million criterium cycling track that had been slated for Briggs Rd in Raceview.

The QT has obtained a list of the 23 projects funded from the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing's 'Get in the Game, Get Playing Plus' program and Ipswich City Council's blue-chip criterium track was not on the list.

The Ipswich City Council had allocated $1.5 million to match dollar-for-dollar funding with the State Government for the initial $3 million of what would be a two-stage $6 million project for a 1.6km track.

The 24/7 Cycling Safety Fund has also raised $100,000 towards the project.

Cr David Morrison, who heads council's sport and recreation committee, was crestfallen when he found out that the project missed out on the $1.5 million in funding.

"We have missed out and we are very disappointed," Cr Morrison said.

"I saw the excellent application done by our officers and it ticked all the boxes."

Cr Morrison said the application fulfilled the criteria of getting people active, and as cycling cuts across all genders and ages it also ticked the box of encouraging full community involvement.

The facility fulfilled the multi-use criteria set out in the application.

With the Ipswich hockey fields and Western Pride soccer home base nearby, the criterium track would be located in a genuine sporting precinct.

"In the design we also had a grass running track around the criterium track so that people could train for biathlons, so it was multi-purpose in all those factors," Cr Morrison said.

MAJOR FACILITY: An artist’s impression of the proposed cycling criterium track on Briggs Rd in Raceview. Contributed

"When you get sports working together many codes benefit from other people joining their clubs.

"It ticked the box of forming a partnership with both local government and the 24/7 Cycling (Safety Fund) that has raised $100,000 to put towards the criterium track in Ipswich and that was all documented in our submission.

"The 24/7 Cycling organisation was set up by Troy Dobinson.

"On the 24th of July (in 2011) Troy's mum (Narelle) was killed when she was riding her bike on the road near Amberley and he set up the 24 Cycling Safety Fund in memory of his mum and to promote safe cycling habits and education throughout the city of Ipswich."

On the 24/7 Cycling Safety Fund website it states one of the organisation's goals is "to design and create a safe cycling centre in the Ipswich area that is easily accessible to families and competitive riders alike".

"This would be in the form of a bitumen criterium track approximately 1.5km to 2.5km in length," the website continues.

Cr Morrison said if council had been successful with its application "we would have been able to deliver it within 12 months".

"So you've got a local government prepared to match the project dollar for dollar, a private organisation that has raised $100,000 that they were prepared to put towards it and you've got it raising participation in all genders and age groups," he said.

"And it would have provided a home for Ipswich cycling.

"Everyone I spoke to in the State Government, whether it be officers or politicians, had been very positive. They were encouraged by the initiative taken by Troy Dobinson's organisation and their objectives."

Ipswich cycling reaction

IPSWICH Cycling Club is still without a home after funding for the multi-million criterium track was knocked back by the State Government.

Club president Ian Snodgrass said the club had been without a home since the velodrome was dismantled at Limestone Park four years ago and that the lack of funding for a criterium track had cut deep.

"We are very, very disappointed because it is something that we've had in the pipeline for many years now," he said.

"Since the velodrome has been torn up it has been very hard for the Ipswich club to call anywhere a home.

"When the criterium track was put forward it was something we were hoping for and looking forward to.

"With reports coming out saying Ipswich is one of the overweight areas of Queensland, something like that would certainly have given somewhere for people to exercise without the fear of traffic and roads and all the dramas that can occur.

"To lose somewhere for juniors, seniors and up and coming riders to ride safely hurts badly.

"We weren't asking for the world. We were asking for a small amount to lay some bitumen down to call home and for mums, dads and kids to feel safe.

"We had saved large amounts of money to put towards this from the club's perspective and to not have it is not helping."

Council reaction

IPSWICH Mayor Paul Pisasale has slammed the LNP State Government's decision not to match council funding for a criterium track for the city.

Cr Pisasale said he would be sitting down with both sides of politics to outline why the track is vital for the city.

"We have been waiting for this track for over 10 years," Cr Pisasale said.

"The criterium track is more than an Ipswich thing. It is a regional thing. We are a growth centre.

"It doesn't make any sense why we have missed out on this funding.

"They (politicians) can come here and make announcements but I want facts. I want them to say, 'This is what you will get'."

Cr Paul Tully reinforced the mayor's displeasure, saying that "(Ipswich MP) Ian Berry must be very embarrassed by his failure to secure money for the city".

Cr Tully said it was "clear that the LNP has written off the seat of Ipswich".