Horse riders Debbie Griffin and Helen Van Diemen, pictured with Edward O’Donohue, are frustrated by recent changes at Mortimer Park. 32857 Picture: Meagan Rogers
By Melissa Grant
HORSE riders who frequent the Bunyip State Park are upset they’re being denied access to its riding tracks because of a recent car park closure.
They also say recent changes at the park – including the removal of tracks and amenities – have them feeling increasingly unwelcome.
Debbie Griffin and Helen Van Diemen are among the local riders who are upset they have to ride almost three kilometres on a bitumen road to access trails, because the DSE has closed an unloading area near Mortimer Park.
“There are so many good tracks you can ride on from Mortimer Park,” Mrs Griffin said.
“A lot of tracks have been dug up and there are a lot of areas you can’t park.
“The bitumen road to get there is not something you want to ride on.
Mrs Griffin said riders were unsure as to why the car park had closed. She said they felt unwelcome because of it and other changes at Mortimer Park.
“Within half a kilometre there was a toilet and two parking areas and now they’ve taken them away,” Mrs Griffin said.
Eastern Victoria MP Edward O’Donohue was concerned about long-term access to the park.
“By removing access and parking facilities in stages there could very well be limited, if any access for horse riding in the future,” he said.
“Mortimer Park in the Bunyip State Park has long been a popular area for horse riders and it is unfair that the State Government should begin restricting access to the many tracks and removing facilities.”
Attempts to obtain a State Government response by deadline were unsuccessful.
