Doubts remain over Anglesea Bike Park’s future

THE Anglesea Bike Park has been part of the community for more than a decade, but some residents remain worried about it being relocated.

The 2015 closure of Alcoa’s mine and power station immediately raised questions about the bike park’s future, as the site is within Alcoa-owned land and is leased from the company for free.

Alcoa is considering what to do with its freehold land in the area as part of the Anglesea Futures process.

Alcoa site manager Warren Sharp said the company would ensure the community had a bike park.

“Alcoa will make sure that there will always be an Anglesea bike park, whether that is in the existing location or somewhere else.”

Yet for many users of the park, leaving the current location would be very disheartening.

Mike Bodsworth said while he was thankful for Alcoa’s support, he felt keeping the existing park was a far better option than moving.

“We’re grateful to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Council and Alcoa for their offers of help with a new bike park, but our campaign is all about saving the existing one. If volunteers who’ve put in over 2,000 hours’ hard labour see it all flattened, are they really going to jump up and start all over again?

“The current site’s accessibility, visibility, ideal gradient and big trees are also important. Almost 6,000 people have petitioned to save the existing site – they’re not asking for a new one.”

In June 2018, the Surf Coast Shire offered to buy the land the park is on from Alcoa for $500,000.

Alcoa is yet to respond with a definitive “yes” or “no” but has extended the bike park’s lease into next year.

Mr Bodsworth said he hoped the park would remain in its existing location.

“Until someone explains to us why saving the existing park is impossible, we’ll keep striving for that.”