Hill views sought from local riders

BY ALISON MARTIN
MOUNTAIN bike and BMX riders can help improve The Hill bike park in Newtown by sharing their ideas online or at a face-to-face meeting
next week.
The Hill features five tracks designed to cater for beginners and more skilled riders over an area of about four hectares at the corner of Fyans Street and Shannon Avenue.
The tracks include three cross country trails, a skills track and a pump track, and the City of Greater Geelong wants to hear the community’s ideas on how the bike park could be improved and enhanced.
The city will use the feedback for future planning of open spaces in the region as part of its commitment to delivering facilities which support healthy communities.
The bike park consultation follows an increase in the number of makeshift jumps and structures throughout the region.
The city says while it looks for opportunities to encourage and support outdoor physical activity, “to reduce the risk of injury, jumps and structures at tracks along the Deviation in Fyansford and at Zillah Crawcour Park will need to be removed”.
Acknowledging that community members who have created and used these makeshift bike tracks and jumps might be disappointed, the city has prioritised public safety and wants riders to have their say on possible additions or changes at
the Hill.
Riders can complete an online survey at yoursay.geelongaustralia.com.au/MBR or share their ideas in person at the Hill Mountain Bike Park from 11am to 1pm on Saturday, July 24.