Getting back on track

RECREATIONAL motorbike riding is an issue that somehow the Shire of Cardinia and the City of Casey must deal with.
I felt absolute frustration last week when a councillor said ‘what’s the use of building motorbike tracks because they won’t stop illegal trail bike riding’.
If councils provide a suitable riding facility they and the police will have strong reason to move against illegal and dangerous trail bike riding, but right now, where do young motorbike enthusiasts take their sport?
Mostly into parks and restricted areas, paddocks in semirural areas and even on to streets and busy roads.
With increased interest in the sport, the problem will become worse.
Casey Council last night had the chance to allocate $5000 for a noise assessment study on a proposed recreational motorcycleriding track in the Five Ways Devon Meadows area.
However, the proposal isn’t a sure thing by a long shot and at this stage is little more than an idea being put forward by motorcycle riding entrepreneur Wayne Maslen.
The problem also exists that it is a private venture and technically should be privately funded.
We can all go back many years and recall problems with trail bike riders and frustration because of noise and damage to parks.
Top of the list is the danger to youngsters riding in uncontrolled areas and many people can recall serious and even fatal accidents because of this.
Last weekend we saw the big boys on their machines heading off to Phillip Island for the ultimate in motorcycle sport and even to the most critical of the motorbike industry this was an exciting and colourful event.
Thousands of people line the motorways as the bikies ride past leaving little doubt that the big race has community approval.
Motorcycle Riders Association president Dale Maggs said this year’s ride to the island was the safest ever, with no incidents reported.
This excellent result was achieved because of the organisation and discipline in the industry, much of that generated by the MRA.
Surely this is a fair indication that councils have an obligation to develop a similar discipline for junior motorcycle riding before the ‘illegal’ sport gets totally out of hand.
If Mr Maslen does receive council support for his latest proposal that is no guarantee that the powers that be will allow him to build a track in that area.
There is bound to be some opposition and the matter will highly likely be ultimately decided at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Nevertheless, this seems to be another chance to get a facility that is desperately needed to cater for motorcycle riding at junior level.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford was critical of Cardinia Shire Council for the way it handled a proposal to build a track at Pakenham South, but almost everyone involved with that fiasco was working against someone else and Mr Maslen was as much to blame as anyone.
My View is that if Mr Maslen, who is walking a fine line on this issue in the City of Casey, wants to obtain council and community support he will need to listen to the wise counsel of those around him.
He needs to follow the correct procedures adopted by those who have been through the planning maze before and are familiar with the process that needs to be followed.
If he persists with wanting to do things his way it won’t happen.