A POPULAR Langwarrin bike jump has been flattened, sparking a wave of backlash. The dirt jump was on land owned by Melbourne Water, between Beech Street and Alder Street along McClelland Drive. In a statement, Melbourne Water said that it was removing the “unauthorised” jump because of reports of serious injuries.
“Melbourne Water is committed to community safety for those who interact with and use our land and waterways. We are aware of an increasing number of serious injuries requiring ambulance attendance – many involving children – that have occurred at an unauthorised bike jump on Melbourne Water land at McClelland Reserve Langwarrin,” the statement read. “To prevent further injuries we are removing and levelling the unauthorised bike jumps and restoring the land to its natural state to allow the community to continue to enjoy it safely.
“We want people to enjoy Melbourne’s land and waterways safely and we don’t want to see any other people get hurt at the bike jumps at McClelland Reserve. After removing the bike jumps, we will plant native trees and restore the nature reserve to encourage native animals and insects to return to the area. “We understand that removing the bike jumps track may be disappointing for some people, but public safety is our absolute priority.”
A petition has circulated protesting the decision – more than 1500 people have signed it. The petition was started by Jacob Ogley, who wrote “for many teenagers in our community, including myself, the MCC Dirt Jumps have been a haven. We built these jumps from scratch, tirelessly shaping the jumps to create a space where we can bond, stay active, and find peace away from society’s endless pressures.”
“These jumps are not just heaps of soil – they are a great representation of our youthful passion and dedication. They are our creation, where we learn self-reliance and teamwork, where we socialise and engage with our friends on the seat of our mountain bikes,” Ogley said. “We’re not asking for much, only that we are permitted to have this small piece for ourselves.”
Converting the land into a formal bike track was considered but not ultimately pursued, The Times understands.
There are public BMX facilities at Overport Park and near the Langwarrin Skate Park. The Langwarrin land is home to wildlife including the black wallaby, short beaked echidna, possums, swamp rat, and woodland birds such as the Eastern Yellow Robin.
First published in the Frankston Times – 22 October 2024