Left: Tom Garland and Michael Bekins are not happy about the installation of gates near their favourite riding spot.By Callan Date
KEEN mountain bike riders from across the Casey-Cardinia district are outraged at an attempt to fence them off from their regular riding area.
The group of riders who built the jumps course in Narre Warren East arrived at the site last weekend to find steel gates had been erected.
Although the riders can still access the course, which they spent hundreds of hours constructing over a three-year period, the barrier has stopped them from safely parking their cars near the entrance to the land.
Berwick teenager Tom Garland said up to 25 riders could use the jumps course, near Cardinia Reservoir, on any given weekend.
“We all go down there a fair bit,” he said.
“The land is not being used for anything else and a lot of people have spent a long time making these jumps.”
Mr Garland’s friend, Emerald resident Michael Bekins, said he thought the gates had been put up to stop people taking four-wheel drives into the area.
“There is now no room to park your car or anything like that,” he said.
“They have made it quite dangerous by putting up the gates.”
Mr Bekins, 16, said he had spoken to residents neighbouring the course, who had no problem with the bike riders using the land.
“Some motorbikes and four-wheel drives go late at night, which could be the problem,” he said.
“But the neighbours have kids who ride there and they are fine with all of us.”
A Melbourne Water spokesman said the gates were erected in consultation with VicRoads.
He said the gates were installed to improve the security around Cardinia Reservoir.
“The security of our water is of utmost concern for Melbourne Water,” he said.
The riders said they would continue to campaign for the barrier to be removed.
