Why they’ve ‘bulldozed’ Cape Woolamai kids’ out

A PETITION signed by 706 people, calling on the Bass Coast Shire Council to allow the parents of Cape Woolamai to rebuild a mountain bike track that’s been on the foreshore, at the end of Cronulla Avenue, for 40 years has fallen on deaf ears.

Council wasn’t asked to spend a cent and a guarantee was given that no vegetation would be removed in the process.

They were only looking for council’s agreement that the berms, switchbacks and features built into the track by the residents themselves would not be bulldozed again.

But it was a flat no from all nine councillors, including new Western Port Councillor Geoff Ellis, who nonetheless acknowledged that the provision of sporting and recreation facilities had been “dragging on for a long time”.

One of the local residents backing the ongoing use of the “small, sheltered area away from traffic” that kids have used for generations is Deb Leonard.

She is all for protecting the broad sweep of the foreshore from damage but says the discrete, “unique area” being used by the kids could easily have been incorporated into the foreshore management plan.

“What has really got my goat is the statement by Cr Le Serve, and I respect Clare, that we should “continue to work with council to get a suitable outcome.

“I’d like to know how they expect us to do that. We have written to council, offered to have meetings and tried to take part in the MX/Pump Tracks/Mountain Bike Reference Group, but they simply didn’t pick any of us to be on the reference group, I don’t know, because we were too involved.

“But they certainly haven’t wasted any time closing off the area with earthworks.”

Ms Leonard said she respected and supported the need to protect the foreshore as our greatest asset but could see no reason why a small, dedicated area could not be set aside for the kids.

Cr Hallstead led the debate at the council meeting on Wednesday, before a motion was moved to actively stop the kids and their parents from reclaiming the bike track area by “proceeding with works to restrict access and restore native vegetation” while preserving the natural amenity and habitat values of the foreshore conservation reserve.

“I appreciate the emotion that surrounds this heartbreaking outcome for the local kids in Cape Woolamai. And I know the council officers also find these situations particularly challenging. No one wants to be labelled the Grinch Who stole the joy from kids just trying to enjoy the outdoors and from parents who are trying to encourage them to do exactly that,” said Cr Hallstead.

“I ask councillors to consider the history in Cape Woolamai after very little recreational space has been provided, the kids were excited for a regional skate park in San Remo, which was found to be unsuitable, then moved to Newhaven which again was found to be unsuitable, followed by the need for an updated strategy and requests for a pump track that also required a new strategy.

“I've advocated for a recreational space for the kids since my election in 2020 and here we are, three years later, still with nothing.

“Is it any wonder the kids have taken matters into their own hands and utilized a space that I'm told has been around for 40 years, yet we have bulldoze that too.

“And lastly, I'd like to encourage the community to continue to advocate through all means, the Engage Bass Coast website and the Pump-BMX-mountain bike reference group.

“I am going to support the recommendation today as it is important that we protect our sensitive coastal vegetation, however, I ask counsel again, please prioritize recreational space for this community who are simply asking for somewhere safe for their kids to play.

Crs Ellis and Le Serve also spoke during the debate, Cr Ellis saying there was a great deal of need for recreational space and activities in Cape Woolamai and Cr Le Serve thanking those who had gone to the trouble of signing the petition, encouraging them to continue to work with council.

Is it the last we’ll see of this issue?

As Cr Hallstead, the kids have felt compelled to take matters into their own hands, perhaps they will again.