Parents push for purpose-built track in Ocean Grove

A GROUP of Ocean Grove parents have formed a small working party to push for a purpose-built BMX and mountain bike facility in the town.
Spearheaded by Ryan Dodson, the group hopes to explore options for planning and construction grants that may be available and meet with the City of Greater Geelong council to discuss possible locations where a track could be built in Ocean Grove.
“We’ve had strong interest from a small group of parents who want to get actively involved in forming a committee or a club,’’ he said this week.
“The main thing is bouncing ideas around and working out how we can possibly get things to happen more quickly.
“We are enthusiastic about putting together a plan as everyone wants this for the same reasons.’’
Land at Lake Avenue Reserve adjacent to Blue Waters Lake in Ocean Grove has been suggested as a possible track location, but another aim of forming the group is to explore other potential sites that may be available.
In July, Geelong Council flattened part of the “humps bike track’’ in Woodlands Estate because of community concerns, prompting Mr Dodson to start an online petition calling for the construction of a new facility, which has so far attracted 1500 signatures of support.
Queenscliff council recently closed the Bunny Woods area of the Point Lonsdale foreshore to protect native vegetation as a result of cyclists straying from established tracks and in Melbourne last week, Maroondah Shire Council deemed the building of jumps in parkland by BMX and riders to be “illegal and dangerous’’.
Just recently in the Surf Coast Shire, a BMX track was among the region’s infrastructure projects to share in more than $1million funding.
“Kids are still building their own jumps here and there in parkland and reserves,’’ Mr Dodson said.
“We will be reaching out to councillors and candidates in the upcoming elections to make our case for the track.’’
Local cycling safety advocate Barton van Laar last month threw his support behind the idea.
“I understand the City of Greater Geelong removing unauthorised areas for environmental and safety reasons, however doing so without recognising the need for such facilities around the Bellarine Peninsula is questionable,’’ he said at the time.
“The Bellarine Peninsula has very poor, accessible, connected cycling infrastructure and I urge Council to listen to the Community on the Bellarine Peninsula and cater for these type of facilities locally.’’
For updates or to get in touch with the group, follow the New Humps For Ocean Grove page on Facebook.