By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
THE future of the Melbourne Drift Trikes is once again up in the air, despite the group’s efforts to secure a permanent riding location during last year’s Big Budget Brainstorm.
Not three months after it was named the most popular idea of the brainstorm, which promised to listen to the priorities of the community, the trikers have been left without a track.
In January this year, the club with the news they could no longer use the roads of Galway Gold Estate, Pakenham.
Council’s acting manager of Development and Compliance Services Owen Hardidge said the decision was made at the request of the developer.
“The land within this estate is now for sale and council received a request from the current land owner that the drift trike activities stop,” Mr Hardidge said.
MDT was given two weeks to stop using the hill, but however no alternative location was provided.
“Most of them are still riding without a road closure, so that’s obviously a real safety concern,” Melbourne Drift Trikes president Greg Lawrence said.
Mr Hardidge acknowledged the news was “not the outcome Melbourne Drift Trikes were hoping for,” but said that “Council hopes that the use of this area was beneficial for the club.”
Mr Lawrence said the news had rocked the group’s young riders, many of whom have turned to riding on other roads.
Held in late 2015, the Big Budget Brainstorm was pitched as an “opportunity for residents of all ages to have their say on how council prioritises its spending.”
All residents were invited to attend a community or online forum, with the top idea submitted by Mr Lawrence.
It suggested that “council could seal one of the perfect gravel fire access tracks and give us a place to hold events.”
Despite strong support for the idea, council’s manager of Sustainable Communities said “council’s investigations have been unable to find a suitable location.
Mr Lawrence said he felt the widely criticised forum had backfired on the shire.
“It doesn’t make council any money and none of the kids that will benefit from it can vote,” he said.
“It was a really big risk that they took and it backfired. They wanted ideas that were more up their alley.”
After the Pakenham News made contact with Cardinia Shire council, a meeting between the two parties was scheduled.
Though various locations were discussed as temporary sites for meets, including Mt Ararat and Haunted Hills Racetrack, no agreement was reached.
In the meantime, Mr Lawrence said MDT will continue paying thousands of dollars for insurance, with no permission to ride.
“We’ve worked so hard to make this happen. At this stage, the results are just disappointing.”
