Thought you may be interested in this latest email sent to the Council from Local Resident and member of The Gums Landcare Group Erik van Dissel regarding the recent survey on the Dirt Bike Track.

Cheers Roxy 

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Dear Mayor, Councillors, Senior Staff and Community Engagement Officer,

I am very concerned about the significant shortcomings and adequacy of the CONNECT 2 CAMPBELLTOWN Potential Dirt Bicycle Track at the Gums Reserve- Information Sheet & Feedback Form. These shortcomings include critical omissions, inaccurate, or at least, misleading content, thereby potentially compromising the legitimacy of this limited consultation.

1)      Information Sheet does not address the substantial difference between casual, informal conventional cycling, and BMX-type dirt biking/racing.

BMX-type dirt biking/racing is a high-risk activity. A UK study showed BMX ing incurred twice the number of serious injury than conventional cycling.

BMX-ing is conducted on a dirt track with jumps, inclines to increase speed, and often unsupervised. It involves speed, skids, wheelies, jumps, hops and balancing, frequently time-trialed.

It is inherently damaging to dirt (unpaved) surfaces. It uses a specially-designed bike with knobby-tread tyres to promote traction, increasing the damage to soil and vegetation.

BMX-type biking/racing in the Gums Reserve is a safety matter, clearly posing serious risks to the children themselves and other park-users, and presents potential financial liabilities to Council (& ultimately ratepayers).

Implying BMX-type biking/racing is no different in practice or resulting harm is inaccurate and misleading.

2)    The proposal offers no assessment of the appropriateness of BMX-type biking/racing in a park with a very broad age range of users; or the suitability of this activity in an environmentally-sensitive location.

3)    From the Council’s Information Sheet, it appears Council has not considered all the risks flowing from BMX-type biking/racing to:

- the riders themselves,

- other park-users, particularly young children, parents pushing prams, and vulnerable people,

- native wildlife, bushes, saplings, trees, and

- the fragile wider environment.

A sound risk assessment of BMX-type biking/racing in the Gums needs to be undertaken and made available to all ratepayers before Council endorsed this high-risk activity.

4)    It appears that Council has not considered or evaluated the Liability issues likely to arise from BMX-type biking/racing which is high-risk. Potentially, Council (thereby its ratepayers) faces liability issues from injury or harm due to its support for a high-risk activity in an unsuitable location.

5)    Importantly, the Council’s proposal is also silent on the costs of repair of the substantial damage already caused by the construction of the unauthorised BMX-track and its continued use. The proposal does not include any commitment or funds for the repair of the existing damage, or for the rehabilitation of the damaged area of environmentally-sensitive remnant vegetation.

Campbelltown Council is under no obligation to provide for every recreational activity, particularly those of high-risk at the Gums Reserve. The Gums Reserve already offers a wide range of recreational opportunities and activities that are compatible with the special environmental significance of the park. These include: basketball, play and exercise equipment, bird & wildlife-watching, walking and jogging, dog-training, BBQing & picnicking, relaxing & conversation, amongst others.

Council is already investing in the Paradise Recreation Park which provides for extensive recreational activities including for bicycling, BMX-type biking/racing, scooters, skateboarding.

The Paradise Recreation Park is the place for BMX-type biking/racing, not the Gums Reserve.

My following comments are intended to raise concerns about the adequacy and value of the Council’s Information Sheet & Feedback Form distributed for a limited consultation of residents adjacent to the Gums Reserve.

Information Sheet

1)    “The creation of this track is not illegal and no illegal behaviour has occurred.  . . .  young people have been recreating legally within this space.”  This statement is surprising, inaccurate or at least, misleading.

This official Council publication asserts the vandalism of the creek bank, damage and destruction of native vegetation, creation of racing tracks without authorisation, making threats to and intimidation of other reserve -users are legal activities. Since when, and how can the Council condone or justify vandalism and intimidation?

2)    “Physical activity . . . are important . . .” This is a ‘motherhood’ statement that is uncontested, though not the issue. The issue is whether a high-risk BMX-type biking is an appropriate activity in an environmentally-sensitive area.

3)    “The Council encourages . . . for all sorts of recreation.”

Unsurprisingly, Council encourages a range of recreational activities.

Council should not encourage high-risk recreational activities in environmentally sensitive places, acts of vandalism, or activities that present safety concerns, pose serious risks to the children themselves and other park-users, and likely to incur potential financial liabilities to Council (& its ratepayers).

4)    “the home-made track is not suitable” Despite the Council’s acknowledgement of the harms caused by the track, it appears in direct contradiction of its preceding statement.

5)    “Cost to construct the [BMX] bike track would be minimal” Presumably, the cost of construction includes: design, materials and labour. Regrettably, Council does not even provide an indicative or estimated cost to enable ratepayers to make a fully informed.

6)    “Council could remove the [BMX] bike track and rehabilitate the area fairly easily and with minimal cost.” Again regrettably, Council does not even provide an indicative or estimated cost to enable ratepayers to make a fully informed.

7)    “upset at a perceived lack of community consultation” Unsurprisingly, there is concern about the consultation given Council has intentionally excluded users of the Gums Reserve, other interested parties, and other ratepayers concerned about this matter and the environment. There appears to be no accessible evidence of consultation with local indigenous peoples, or the Council’s Reconciliation Committee.

8)    “young people who need a place near home to exercise, get fresh air, and get away from screens.” This appears to be a hollow ‘motherhood’ statement with which few people would disagree. There has never been any contestation with this. It is however a misleading assertion and attempts to offer disingenuous excuse for Council’s acceptance and condoning of vandalism and intimidation. The Gums Reserve already provides a range of opportunities and facilities for young people who need a place near home to exercise, get fresh air, and get away from screens.

The central issue in this matter is the unsuitability of this high-risk activity being held in the Gums Reserve. The key issue of BMX-type biking/racing in the Gums Reserve is a safety matter It clearly poses serious risks to the children themselves and other park-users, and presents potential financial liabilities to Council (& ultimately ratepayers).

The unauthorised creation of the existing BMX-racing track has already caused significant damage to an environmentally-sensitive area of the Gums.

The Gums reserve already offers a wide range of activities. Council has already committed to the creation of the Paradise Recreation Plaza.

9)    “The home-made creation of bicycle tracks and bumps is not unique to the City of Campbelltown”. This is an unsupported claim. No examples or information is provided.

Whether home-made tracks are unique to Campbelltown Council or not, is not the issue. Of concern is whether high-risk BMX-type biking/racing is an appropriate activity for an environmentally-sensitive area, and in a park used by a wide range of people.

10)               “In other Councils where a community-led design and management approach has been adopted” This is an unsupported claim. No examples or information is provided.

Consideration of the appropriateness or not of community-led design and management approach should be addressed after there has been a proper determination of the appropriateness of high-risk BMX-type biking/racing in a park used by a wide age range of people; and its suitability in an environmentally-sensitive area.

11)               “. .  a lot of feedback . . . has appeared to be based on negative stereotypes of both young and older people.” No evidence has been provided in support of this claim by the Council.

It is divisive and inappropriate for Council to frame this important matter as a generational issue, pitting younger people against older people. This matter should be properly presented:

- as vandalism and environmental damage,

- threatening behaviour of the BMX-type bike-riders towards other park-users,

- the inappropriateness of the high-risk activity in a preservation of remnant vegetation, wildlife in the park, and quiet amenity of the area,

- risks posed to other park-users including children, parents with young children, young and older adults and vulnerable people of all ages,

- public risk implications, and

- costs arising from restoration of damage already incurred and the proposed project borne by all ratepayers of the Council.

Feedback Form

“ . . . is only for residents who live within 300m of the Gums Reserve.”

It is unacceptable that Council excludes ratepayers and park-users from their ‘consultation’. There are many people who have an interest in the Gums Reserve who deserve to have the opportunity to express their opinions, be heard and have their views considered by Council.

The design of the Feedback Form is poor and inadequate.

For example, Q3 refers to the “creation of small dirt track for bicycle riding”. This is an inaccurate and misleading question.

The track proposed is not for bicycling. The proposal is for a dirt-track with jumps, turns, and inclines to increase speed for high-risk BMX-type dirt biking/racing that involves speed, skids, wheelies, jumps, hops and balancing, frequently time-trialed.

Q4 & Q5 do not provide sufficient space for making a meaningful response. It suggests Council is not really interested in the views of those consulted.

In summary, it is regrettable the CONNECT 2 CAMPBELLTOWN Potential Dirt Bicycle Track at the Gums Reserve- Information Sheet & Feedback Form has shortcomings including critical omissions, inaccurate, or at least, misleading content. The shortcomings potentially compromise the value and legitimacy of this limited consultation.

Regards,

Erik van Dissel