The Athletics Bendigo Board have decided to implement Track Access Fees from 1st July 2026 onwards.
Track Access Subscription Fees:
First Year:
- $30 initial purchase price for current members of Little Athletics Bendigo or a member of an Athletics Bendigo affiliated club (Bendigo Harriers, Bendigo University, Eaglehawk and South Bendigo Athletics Club).
- $90 initial purchase price for non-members.
- $30 for Athletics Bendigo Board Members.
- $0 for Registered Coaches of Little Athletics Bendigo or a Bendigo athletics club who are providing coaching services free of charge.
- $0 for Athletics Bendigo Life Members.
Repeating Years:
- $30 for members per annum (as above).
- $90 for non-members per annum.
- $30 for Athletics Bendigo Board Members.
- $0 for Athletics Bendigo Life Members.
- $0 for Registered Coaches of Little Athletics Bendigo or a Bendigo athletics club who are providing coaching services free of charge.
Registration of existing fobs
A QR code is now displayed at the entrance to the venue for athletes and coaches to register existing fobs.
Please complete the form which is linked to the QR code, if have any concerns or queries please contact Melissa, our Venue Manager for further details at manager@athleticsbendigo.org.au.
Don’t currently have an access fob?
New subscribers can order a Fob online via https://athleticsbendigo.square.site/ at any time.
Please email manager@athleticsbendigo.org.au once you have completed your purchase to arrange collection of your new fob.
Membership Schedule:
- Track Memberships will begin on the 1st of July each year and run to 30th of June of the following year.
- The Venue Manager will send out invoices to all subscribers in May of each year.
- If a user has not paid their invoice by 31st of August then their access will be suspended. They will be able to renew at any time.
What’s included:
Track access fobs includes:
- Access to train on the track and use of field areas.
- Access to toilets.
What’s excluded:
Track access excludes:
- Access to the ‘training equipment’, which includes training hurdles, starting blocks and other items. These are available under the guidance of a registered coach.
- Access to the venue when a school or group has a booking. (checkout the calendar on the fob entrance gate for bookings).
- Access to the Glasshouse or Photo Finish and Meet Manager rooms.
- Access to the Canteen.
- Access to the full change rooms.
- Access to full equipment shed/s.
When a Fob not required?
A Fob is NOT required to access the complex for:
- Competitions (i.e. AVSL, Tuesday Night Track, Little Athletics, etc).
- Weekday group training sessions between 4:00pm – 6:00pm most weekdays. Please check with coaches for specific times.
- School carnivals as a student or spectator.
Background to this change
Whilst we do not want to create barriers to access athletics and this is not within the ethos of Athletics Bendigo. With rising operating costs and a track replacement in the near future – now is the time to implement an annual access charge.
Track Replacement Anticipated
The Lar Birpa Athletics Complex on Retreat Road in Flora Hill is managed by Athletics Bendigo and was first opened in 1999.
The track surface is valued at in excess of $1 million and we wish for it to continue to be well cared for. It is anticipated that the track surface will need to be replaced in 2030 at the latest at significant cost to Athletics Bendigo and the City of Greater Bendigo.
Long Planned
There was always an intention by Athletics Bendigo to charge an annual subscription for track access. However, in the past we did not have the best systems in place to maintain a suitable database or invoicing system.
Covering Costs
The cost of each access fob to Athletics Bendigo is $30 each, therefore, with the current system we are not actually covering costs.
Amnesty Period, Legacy Fobs and Access Cards
As there are a large number of fobs and access cards in the community, we feel it is appropriate to allow an amnesty period for users to come to the complex to have their fob registered (or deregistered) and their details updated on the system.
We will allow a longer amnesty period for 2026 for people to understand the change and this will run up to the 31st of August 2026.
