POLICE and government agencies will work to address complaints that motorbike joyriders have ‘‘taken over’’ Royal National Park.
A residents’ action group says car ‘‘hoons’’ also contribute to problems of speeding, ‘‘horrendous’’ noise and antisocial behaviour on weekends and many nights.
One concern is a practice known as ‘‘nasho runs’’, involving co-ordinated races through the park, with lookouts posted to warn of any police presence.
A spokeswoman for the group, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, said that unless action was taken tourists would become afraid to use Grand Pacific Drive through the national park and over Sea Cliff Bridge.
‘‘Motorbikes have taken over the drive as there is a disproportionate number of them compared with other vehicles,’’ she said.
‘‘Lady Wakehurst Drive and Lawrence Hargrave Drive have become a racing strip for motorbikes, while lookouts at Bald Hill [Stanwell Tops] and Otford are popular for burnouts, ‘‘doughnuts’’ and other reckless behaviour.
“Some residents have been intimidated by large groups of bike riders congregating at the lookouts.’’
A traffic survey conducted by the group on Lawrence Hargrave Drive on a Saturday morning in July recorded 196 motorbikes and only two cars passing in an hour.
Watch Leader reader Alan Bond's (see his comment below on the story below) timelapse video of the route through Royal National Park.
Heathcote MP Lee Evans convened a meeting this month of residents from Otford, Stanwell Tops and Coalcliff, highway patrol officers from Sutherland
and the Illawarra, and Wollongong police local area command crime manager Detective Inspector Tim Beattie.
Also present were representatives of Roads and Maritime Services and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).
Mr Evans said it was the first time all parties had met to discuss the situation and they were working together on solutions.
Action would begin with gathering statistics on the number of motorbikes entering the park and Environment Protection Authority inspectors stopping bikes to check noise levels.
‘‘We were told Wollongong Council is going to introduce alcohol-free zones at Bald Head and Otford lookouts,’’ Mr Evans said.
‘‘The police are aware of the ‘nasho runs’, and know they are well organised.
‘‘There are concerns accidents have occurred, with people hurt, but they have not been reported.
‘‘It is a worry that innocent people could become involved.’’
ACTION PLAN
Noisy vehicles can be reported to the EPA hotline on 131 555 or by using a new EPA app, specifically designed to encourage reporting.
Speeding vehicles, including registration numbers, should be reported to the police assistance line on 131 444.
If motorbikes or vehicles have been illegally modified, a penalty notice can be issued, with repeat offenders liable to have their registration suspended.
Do you think motorcycle riders are taking over the Royal?
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