The News reported the concerns of local riders after gates were installed at the entrance to a Narre Warren East site popular with bike riders and four-wheel-drive owners.By Callan Date
A LOCAL man has applauded the move to install a fence blocking vehicle access to a patch of land in Narre Warren East.
Ray Lawn said he was keen to express his side of the story after the News reported last month that bike riders were dismayed at the erection of the fence.
Mr Lawn said he had no problem with BMX or mountain bike riders using the Melbourne Water land to fly over the purpose-built jumps on the site.
He said, however, motorists taking four-wheel-drive vehicles on to the property were a major concern.
“We were left without a phone line for a month last year after some bloke in a 4WD ripped up the (telephone exchange) pit,” he said.
“About 10 of our neighbours were also affected. We had no Internet connection during this time and it made it hard for my children, who were doing VCE and university studies.”
Mr Lawn said the area had become an eyesore before the gates were installed.
“People were taking their rubbish in there and just dumping it. There was literally tip trucks going in there and all sorts of stuff getting left behind.
“Someone had dumped a rotten carcass and all the remains over there. It was absolutely disgusting.
“I quite often walk or ride my mountain bike over there and the kids on BMXs aren’t an issue. The motor bikes aren’t that bad either. It’s just the four-wheel-drives that are ripping up the land over there,” he said.
The gates may have put a stop to any major destruction, however, the young riders are still concerned with their safety.
Berwick teenager Tom Garland and Emerald resident Michael Bekins first raised the issue with the News when the gates were installed last month.
Although they can still access the course, which they constructed over a three-year period, the barrier has stopped them from safely parking their cars near the entrance to the land, the boys said.
A Melbourne Water spokesman said the gates were erected in consultation with VicRoads.
He said the gates were installed to improve the security around Cardinia Reservoir.
And according to Mr Lawn, that is exactly what they are doing.
