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Bike jumps on Council land

Damage caused by bike jumps in a Council reserve Damage to a Council reserve caused by unauthorised bike jumps

Maroondah is lucky to be home to 44 bushland reserves. Council look after these reserves to ensure they are well maintained and safe for the community to enjoy.

The building of bike jumps, tracks and other obstacles on Council land, particularly in bushland reserves, has become more common and can cause devastating issues and damage to wildlife habitat and Maroondah's biodiversity.

Building unauthorised structures on Council land has large impacts on our natural environment, including soil erosion and damage to native plants, which can take years to recover. Building bike tracks in bushland areas often causes irreversible damage to local indigenous vegetation that is removed. This damage to vegetation is permanent and cannot be rectified or replaced. 

Guideline principles

Council has guidelines that are used to assess unauthorised structures to ensure the community is safe and able to enjoy an undamaged and protected natural environment:

  • So far as is practicable Council is obligated, responsible and committed to the management of Council land in a manner which is safe for all community users.
  • Council is committed to the protection of the natural and built environment for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.
  • Council is committed to the provision of a range of opportunities for the community to be active and engaged in physical activities within Council’s municipal reserves.

Council has many outdoor activity spaces that are available for use. These include:

For a full list of parks and outdoor spaces in Maroondah, visit our Parks and Playgrounds webpage.

Assessment criteria

Council’s Local Laws prohibit people from interfering with its public spaces, including undertaking building works or construction activities.

However, for unauthorised bike jump and bike track works, Council will assess the work against the following criteria:

  • Unauthorised bike jumps and bike tracks cannot be located inside or within 10 metres of an area designated as significant vegetation or re-vegetation.
  • Unauthorised bike jumps and bike tracks cannot cause damage or impact to trees (including tree roots), watercourses or other natural assets.

Unauthorised bike jumps and bike tracks are not permitted in the following reserves:

  • Alto Reserve, Croydon
  • Appletree Hill Reserve, Kilsyth South
  • Barngeong Reserve, Croydon
  • Baringa Reserve
  • Bedford Park, Ringwood
  • Birts Hill Reserve, Croydon North
  • B J Hubbard Reserve, Ringwood North
  • Brentwood, Croydon
  • Bungalook Conservation Reserve, Kilsyth South
  • Cheong Wildfower Sanctuary, Croydon
  • Candlebark Reserve, Croydon Hills
  • DeFelice
  • Dexters/Alexanders, Heathmont
  • Dublin Road, Ringwood East
  • Eastfield Park, Croydon
  • F.J.C. Rogers Reserve, Heathmont
  • Grandfill Reserve, Croydon
  • Glenvale Road Reserve, Ringwood North
  • H.E. Parker, Heathmont
  • Heathmont Park, Heathmont
  • Heathmont Station, Heathmont
  • Kalinda Modified Urban Forest, Ringwood
  • Loughies Bushland Reserve, Ringwood North
  • Melba College, Croydon
  • Mulgrave Way Reserve, Croydon North
  • Nangathan Way Reserve, Croydon North
  • Narr Maen Reserve, Croydon Hills
  • Monterey Place Reserve, Ringwood North
  • Oban Road and Glenvale Road Reserve, Ringwood North
  • Power Street Reserve, Croydon North
  • Proclamation Park, Ringwood
  • San Martin Reserve, Croydon Hills
  • Stringybark Rise Reserve, Croydon
  • Warrien Reserve, Croydon North
  • Warranwood Reserve, Warranwood
  • Wombolano Park, Ringwood East
  • Yarrunga Reserve, Croydon North (outside the Council built bike jumps)

 

  • Unauthorised bike jumps cannot cause damage to or impact the built infrastructure (i.e. seats, tables, playgrounds, pathways etc.)
  • Unauthorised bike jumps cannot impact the normal use of the Council land (i.e. formal/recreational sports, dog walking etc.)
  • The area occupied by an unauthorised bike jump and its surroundings must be free of debris and rubbish (including drug and alcohol paraphernalia).

 

  • Unauthorised bike jumps  cannot be located within historic landfill sites.
  • When contaminated land or suspected contaminates are exposed, work must immediately cease.

 

  • Each element must have a 1m offset from trees and other solid natural or built assets.
  • Each element must have a 3m vertical clearance from overhanging trees and vegetation.
  • The area occupied by an unauthorised bike jump and its surrounds must be free of holes from soil removal.
  • Elements must be less than 50cm in height or depth.
  • Elements must be constructed using soil or wood mulch only (the use external materials such as wood planks, concrete and bricks are not permitted).
  • Gaps must not be present between the launch and landing ramps of jump elements.

 

  • Unauthorised bike jumps cannot be located close to residential properties.
  • Noise from an unauthorised bike jump should not impact neighbouring residential properties.
  • Unauthorised bike facilities cannot be located within close proximity (5km) of a Council-provided bike or skate facility.

 

What happens next?

When an unauthorised bike jump does not comply with the above guidelines, Council may decide to remove elements or the full site. Where the full site is to be removed, Council will attempt to engage and educate the builders, users and adjoining residents to explain the reasons for removing the bike jumps.

Further information

If you are a young person and wish to speak to a youth worker about young people's use of facilities, please contact our Youth Services team on 9294 5704.

If you are reporting unauthorised jumps, damage or litter, please contact our Asset Management team on 9298 4313 or email maroondah@maroondah.vic.gov.au

 

06/09/2021
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