Northern beaches: Council to remove unofficial bike jumps after boy, 12, suffers head injury

Northern Beaches Council is set to level unofficial bike jumps after a boy, 12, suffered a serious head injury in a 2m fall.

CareFlight emergency helicopter medical crew and ambulance paramedics attend to a boy, 12, who suffered serious facial injuries after he fell from his bicycle while riding on a jump ramp, constructed by locals, in a reserve at Mona Vale. Picture: CareFlight

• COVID-19: High-tec ‘drive thru’ bottle shop to help social distancing
• The crimes that rocked the northern beaches

Steep unauthorised mountain bike jumps built by locals in a northern beaches park will be levelled by the council after a boy suffered terrible head injuries in a fall.

A boy, 12, smashed his face and was knocked unconscious after falling more than two metres while using one of the jumps at the unofficial site at Mona Vale late on Sunday afternoon.

His facial injuries were so bad that he had to be flown by the CareFlight emergency helicopter to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

CareFlight emergency helicopter medical crew and ambulance paramedics stabilise the injured boy before he is flown to The Children’s Hospital, Westmead. Picture: CareFlight

Now Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee has confirmed it will level the site in Suzanne Rd, on the southern edge of Whitney Reserve, “as soon as possible.”

Witnesses to Sunday’s accident told emergency personnel that the boy was performing a jump over earthworks built by locals on the edge of Cahill Creek when he fell and hit his head just before 4pm.

The boy’s friends, and nearby residents gave him first aid until paramedics arrived. CareFlight’s helicopter landed at Whitney Reserve.

After the boy was stabilised a group of locals helped carry him up an earthen ramp and into the helicopter.

Sam Stockwell, 23, at the unofficial jump site near the Grove Bike Park at Seaforth. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Brownlee said it was a terrible accident.

“We wish the child all the best for a full recovery.

“We understand mountain biking is a growing sport and we are working to determine appropriate sites for more local facilities.

“We do not support unauthorised clearing of bushland and encourage the community to work with us to find solutions that support the bike community while protecting important natural bushland.

“The unauthorised jumps at this location will be removed ASAP.”

The decision to dismantle the Mona Vale site comes after the council recently closed off unauthorised trail and jumps near its official Grove Bike Park at Seaforth.

Northern Beaches Council has fenced off about a hectare of land where unauthorised jumps and trails have been constructed at Seaforth. Picture: Supplied.

The Manly Daily reported last week that the site, which is owned by various landowners including the council, was closed after some residents complained about the loss of about one hectare of bushland.

But riders said the unauthorised Seaforth site came about because Grove Bike Park, which opened in 2011, was not well made and not properly maintained by the council.

One rider, Sam Stockwell, said the Seaforth site was created by bike riders because they were frustrated over many years by the lack of proper facilities for the sport on the northern beaches.

The Manly Daily also reported that a concept plan has been drawn up for a bike jump park at Manly Vale by the voluntary group Trail Care, which provides strategic advice and support in relation to mountain biking.

The injured boy was knocked unconscious in the fall at the jump near the edge of Whitney Reserve at Mona Vale. Picture: CareFlight

The organisation has created an unsolicited proposal for the site on contaminated land owned by the council, between Manly Lagoon and the back of an industrial estate.

A new facility at Belrose, the Bare Creek Bike Park, is set to open soon.