Melbourne Water and the Brimbank council will urge local police to patrol parks and reserves near waterways in a bid to curb illegal trail bike riding.
Melbourne Water waterways and land officer Gerard Morel said illegal trail bike use could cause destruction of creek banks and surrounding native vegetation and habitat.
“Melbourne Water will be involved in preliminary discussions regarding the potential … patrols to prevent illegal trail bike riding in parks and reserves near waterways in the Brimbank area,” he said.
“Use of trail bikes near waterways is regularly reported to Melbourne Water by local residents.”
A number of strategies have been put in place to help quell the damage caused by trail bikes, but none have stopped the problem.
“As part of our management of waterways in Brimbank, Melbourne Water uses a number of strategies to control illegal trail bike and 4WD access, including the construction of physical barriers,” Mr Morel said.
Talks surrounding police patrols will focus largely on the Kororoit Creek area.
A representative of the Friends of Kororoit Creek said the group would welcome patrols of the area.
“We want to see bikes off the [walking] track. They’re dangerous and cause destruction to the area,” the representative said. “We see and hear them along the creek on a daily basis and they’ve driven through plantings, destroying the vegetation in the past.”
Brimbank acting director city development Leanne Deans said the council was aware of the ongoing concern surrounding trail bike activity at Brimbank waterways and would continue to discuss potential solutions with Melbourne Water and Victoria Police.
Anyone with information regarding illegal trail bike riding should contact the Sunshine Police.
