Parents have won a battle to save an informal bike jump track, which nearby residents say has become “a nightmare”.
Occupants of six homes opposite and next to the track in a pocket reserve at the corner of Geelong Road and Geneva Place, Engadine, sought to have it removed.
They told Sutherland Shire Council and the Leader the once peaceful green space had become a brown earth eyesore, regularly occupied by groups of 25-30 children, many of them teenagers, who yell, use offensive language and play loud music.
Parents of children who built and use the jumps rallied to save the track, and a petition has gained more than 380 signatures.
The parents say the reserve was unused before the children began building jumps.
The reserve is one of three at Engadine where the council decided earlier this year bike jumps built by teenagers should remain in place.
The matter came to a head at Monday night’s council meeting when Crs Greg McLean and Diedree Steinwall, who represent the Engadine area, attempted to have the track removed until “the broad community” was consulted.
Mayor Carmelo Pesce, who also represents the area and was instrumental in the decision to allow the track, moved an amendment to keep it while the council worked with parents on safety issues and rules of use.
Cr Pesce won the day with a 8-5 vote.
Cr Pesce told the meeting, “Our jobs are quite hard, but as long as we please the majority against the minority – and the minority are always the loudest – I think we are doing the right thing”.
Cr Pesce said the matter had become volatile with police being called when “one of the objecters was filming kids”.
Cr McLean said it was “shameful” Cr Pesce had gone to the reserve to speak to parents of riders, but not gone across the road to talk to affected residents.
Cr McLean said the petition could not be treated seriously as many of those who signed it did not give an address or were from outside the shire.
There were more appropriate bushland areas for a bike track nearby, he said.
Cr Steinwall, a local high school teacher, said some of her pupils may use the track.
“I agree the kids have to be able to get out and play, but this site is becoming increasingly unsuitable,” she said.
Cr Steinwall said the council should be looking at building at Engadine a smaller version of the jump track at The Ridge.
Nicole Voigt, who started the petition to save the track and promoted it on the Engadine Heathcote Community closed Facebook page, said she understood the concerns of some residents.
”My response is that they should approach the kids, talk to them and ask them to keep their music down,” she said.
”I think if they opened a dialogue with them, the kids would be receptive.”
A resident opposed to the track told the Leader, “This is not an ‘us against them’ stance”.
“We don't want to ‘take the jumps away’, only have them moved to a more appropriate site. We simply ask for commonsense and a sense of decency to prevail.”
“Over the past 6-7 months I have seen the progress of these jumps from a small scale to a very large, invasive, and disruptive presence.”
