By BRIDGET SCOTT
MORE than 12 months after the City of Casey council rejected plans for a motorbike ramp on his property, Cam Sinclair was thrilled to have it approved at a recent town planning meeting.
The Freestyle Motocross champion said he would have had to move houses if the permit wasn’t approved this time around.
“It’s a dream come true,” he said.
The Cranbourne South resident first rode on North Road before council shut this down and declared it a Green Wedge Zone.
“I decided after that to buy a property where there were no restrictions,” he said.
However, the process wasn’t so easy, and when Cam applied for a permit to build jumps in his backyard, council received 32 objections to this.
“They all objected straight away,” he said.
When the permit first went to council more than a year ago, City of Casey councillors voted unanimously to reject the permit, despite an officer’s recommendation to grant it.
For Cam, the ramps were vital so following the first rejection, he took the time to visit his neighbours and explain their intended use.
“This time I went and knocked on everyone’s doors and explained what it was that I do,” he said.
“It’s my full time job.”
Cam has been granted permission to use these ramps under the conditions that he only rides Monday to Friday and between noon and 3pm.
There were only three objections when it went back to council most recently.
He said the permit also allowed two riders at a time and said it was a “huge relief” to see it accepted.
“We’ve put so much time and money into building a new home,” he said.
“We would’ve had to sell otherwise, so it’s saved me a lot of money.”
Councillor Geoff Ablett originally moved the motion to have it rejected and said there were too many objections to pass it.
Mr Sinclair expressed his disappointment following this initial rejection but said the City of Casey council has been good to work with.
The ramps are already half underway and Cam looked forward to continue riding.
