City lands on Grove bike park idea

OCEAN Grove will soon get its first look at a much-anticipated bike park proposed for Kingston Park.

The City of Greater Geelong will this week reveal designs for a District Ride Centre and wants community input on its planned designs and location.

The bike park would accommodate up to 100 riders at a time and would fill a long-standing need for the Ocean Grove community.

COGG’s proposal includes 80 to 100-metre long dirt jump lines to suit all skill levels, an asphalt pump track and skills features, complete with shelter, seating and fencing to separate the facility from the rest of Kingston Park.

Designer Synergy Trails landed on Kingston Park because of its existing amenities and central location.

The city said local input would inform its planning for the eventual location and design of the ride centre.

City mayor Peter Murrihy said the facility would provide a lift for Bellarine bike jumpers.

“We all understand the many benefits of cycling to community members of all ages,” he said.

“A facility of this nature has the potential to be of enormous value to Ocean Grove residents along with being another attraction to visitors to the region.”

Bellarine Ward councillor Trent Sullivan encouraged riders from Ocean Grove and across Geelong to have their say on the facility.

“A riding centre with the potential for such variety can be an enormous asset to the Ocean Grove community,” he said.

Ocean Grove Bike Park Committee has lobbied governments for support of the project for several years.

The idea gained further traction during the pandemic when COGG flattened makeshift dirt bike jumps built by local children including at Woodlands Reserve, pointing to safety concerns and vegetation impacts.

Consultation opens online on Friday (July 29) and closes 5pm, August 26.