UPDATE:
More than 900 people have signed a petition to legalise BMX trails in bushland on Woronora Heights.
BMX rider Ben Jamieson started the online petition last month when Sydney Water bulldozed the existing trails.
The petition maintains that BMX riding is very popular in the Woronora Heights area although there are no longer tracks for people to use.
‘‘We are petitioning to the Sydney Water Board to legalise a relatively small area of their property near Sandpiper Place for the construction of BMX trails,’’ the petition reads.
When the Leader reported that the jumps had been bulldozed the story got a passionate response from readers (see comments below story).
The petition said that if successful, the trails would be rebuilt by local riders and trail builders with environmental consideration such as erosion protection and plant removal in mind.
To sign or comment on the petition visit: www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/sydney-water-corporation-legalise-mtb-bmx-trails-near-sandpiper-place...
EARLIER STORY:
A GROUP of BMX riders from Sutherland Shire were devastated when their tracks and jumps in bushland at Woronora Heights were bulldozed last month.
The tracks were dug over several years and had been a popular destination for BMX riders in the region.
Ben Jamieson, 18, contacted the Leader to complain that there are now no facilities in the region for him and his friends to enjoy their chosen sport.
‘‘Other kids who have outdoor sporting passions, like soccer, footy or netball, have facilities provided to them,’’ Mr Jamieson said.
‘‘A whole group of my mates have spent literally years building a set of trails with the sole intention of having fun, enjoy the surrounding bushland, friendship with mates and to get fit and active.’’
The tracks were dug on land belonging to Sydney Water and were bulldozed last month.
‘‘It was devastating,’’ said fellow BMX rider, Jaeden Money. ‘‘That was the hardest I had worked towards anything in my life.
‘‘There is nothing to do any more, there is nothing else like this around.’’
Sydney Water said in a statement that complaints were received from Woronora Heights residents.
‘‘Their concerns included traffic, noise and safety, as well as environmental impact on the bushland,’’ a spokeswoman said.
‘‘The track is not allowable under current zoning restrictions and poses significant health and safety risks for Sydney Water.’’
For residents on the quiet street adjacent to the bushland which concealed the track, it was the vehicles that came with the riders that posed the biggest problem.
‘‘I’m not opposed to the track itself but the cars that came driving up and down the road,’’ one resident told the Leader.
‘‘I haven’t got a problem with the activity but we bought here for a quiet street opposite the bush and every Saturday and Sunday afternoon there were so many cars we had problems getting our own cars out of the driveway.’’
‘‘The council needs to provide something as an alternative; they deserve to have something — just not in an area like this.’’
Sutherland Council has allocated $700,000 towards constructing an international-standard BMX track and off-road bike competition circuit at Barden Ridge near Menai.
A master plan for the track has been developed by the council in consultation with the community and is awaiting approval from the Planning Department.
Mr Jamieson and his friends have seen the plans but said they were not suitable for their style of riding.
‘‘The proposal for Menai is more for a BMX race track with a small jump park next to it and this is not the same discipline of riding as the jumps at Woronora Heights,’’ he said.
‘‘It is still years away and a great cost to the council where our jumps would be free to build with us out there with our shovels.’’
Is there a need for more BMX jumps in the shire?
