Bass Coast community pushes for new bike track
A Bass Coast community is getting behind an idea that would protect the environment and provide people with a place to be active and have fun. See the plan here.
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Phillip Island residents are calling for a new bike track to be installed to stop destruction of the local foreshore and provide a “meeting point” for locals.
Pump track for Cape Woolamai is a new group founded by Dave Manning to help advocate for the instillation of a pump track in the area.
A pump track is an asphalt circuit of rollers, banked turns and features designed for bicycles, scooters and skateboards. Riders can generate momentum by up and down body movements or ‘pumping’.
A petition has been organised by Shannon Melissa of Cape Woolamai to put the issue on the council’s radar.
She said it would serve as a “meeting place” for local families and give both kids and adults something to do on the south eastern side of Phillip Island.
“I am a mum of two kids and over lockdowns I had a chat with a few people and we spoke about how great it would be to have a facility like a pump track in Cape Woolamai, considering bike riding is such a popular activity,” she said.
“Something like a pump track would encourage people to be more active, especially in this post Covid age where everyone is used to being stuck inside.”
Cape Woolamai had 2300 residents according to the last Census, up from 1700 five years ago.
With only one playground to service the whole area, Mrs Melissa said there was a severe lack of facilities in Cape Woolamai.
The lack of facilities had lead people to create their own, in the form of “makeshift bike tracks” along the delicate Cape Woolamai foreshore, she said. .
“There have been some makeshift tracks made which is destructive to the ecosystem down on the foreshore,” she said.
“A purpose built pump track would provide a replacement of the current popular bush tracks built in our foreshore and allow vegetation to regenerate in these areas.”
Secretary and treasurer of the Cape Woolamai Coast Action Group, Peter Dumergue said the group would support the construction of the track.
“Members of the Cape Woolamai Coast Action Group would support and encourage interested locals to get behind the request for a suitable bike track within the proximity of Cape Woolamai,” he said.
Mrs Melissa believed the construction of a pump track would provide not only social and environmental positives but it would also enhance Cape Woolamai’s reputation as an already stellar tourist location.
“It could also make our foreshore a real destination,” she said.
When Mrs Melissa contacted council about getting this put on the agenda she was told to create a petition to convince council there was enough community interest in the project.
Councillor Rochelle Halstead said she was a “big supporter” of the island skate and surf community.
“When approached by Shannon, I was happy to advise her that council is currently reviewing its Skate Strategy,” she said.
“The provision of a pump track would need to start by being part of that strategy and the best way she could advocate for this to happen would be to make submission to council as input to the strategy review.”
Ms Halstead said she would present the petition to council for consideration.
“A pump track would make a terrific addition to Bass Coast that has such a strong surf and skate interest, it could form part of a larger precinct that incorporates all things surf, skate and roll,” she said.
To sign the petition, click here.
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