- The City of Melville has opened its first purpose-built mountain bike facility at Dyoondalup Point Walter on Saturday, 22 June with a community celebration.
- The $1.64 million facility has been created following extensive community engagement and to provide a long-term solution to reduce the establishment of informal bike tracks around the City, which were threatening local bushland and posed safety risks for users.
- Expected to be a popular destination for mountain bike enthusiasts, Dyoondalup Bike Park provides a safe space for local riders of all skill levels to enjoy.
The City of Melville has opened the much-anticipated Dyoondalup Bike Park at Point Walter Reserve with a community celebration on Saturday, 22 June.
After noticing the establishment of informal bike tracks in nearby areas such as Art Wright Reserve that threatened local bushlands and wildlife, along with posing safety issues, the City of Melville recognised the growing need for dedicated facilities within the Point Walter area.
The $1.48 million Dyoondalup Bike Park has been designed and constructed by Common Ground Trails to provide a safe space for local riders to enjoy.
The design process actively involved the City of Melville community, with particular engagement from local youth.
Their input and ideas were integral in ensuring that the facility met the expectations and desires of local riders.
The facility includes three flow trails, a jump park and pump track to cater for a diverse range of biking, with green, blue and black-coded trails for differing skill levels.
This bike park will develop, encourage and grow people’s confidence in riding and offers a wonderful nature riding experience in an urban setting.
The City of Melville greatly acknowledges the $1.48 million funding made by the Federal Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, that has made this facility a reality.
The place where the bike park was built has been recognised as a site of great cultural significance, with a deep connection to the Whadjuk Noongar people’s spiritual dreaming narratives and historical use for hunting and camping.
Throughout the project, the City worked closely with Whadjuk representatives, who supported the construction of the bike park, to understand the cultural significance of the site and ensure all plans respected this.
The park's development involved the preservation of a portion of Tuart woodland, which is classified as a Threatened Ecological Community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) (s266B).
Although not all established trees could be preserved due to the park's layout, the site's original landscape was maintained to the greatest extent possible.
To compensate for the necessary removal of some trees, a substantial replanting initiative was undertaken, with thousands of individual plants including over 200 trees being introduced to the area.
Furthermore, the natural areas team has plans to plant many more native species in the coming years to further enhance the environmental and biodiversity values of this precious woodland site.
The park includes considerable signage highlighting that riders should ride within their ability and progress to more advanced stages only when they are adequately competent at the lower levels, and on bikes that are appropriately built and maintained for those necessary features.
For more information, visit
www.melvillecity.com.au/bikepark Comments attributed to City of Melville Mayor, Katy Mair: “The opening of the Dyoondalup Bike Park at Point Walter Reserve is a fantastic win for the community and particularly our young people, as it helps to address the need for mountain bike facilities in the City of Melville,” said Mayor Mair.
“We are very grateful for the support of the Federal Government through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program for their $1.48 million funding and support in making this facility a reality.
“The facility has been created in response to the establishment of informal bike tracks that we saw in nearby areas such as Art Wright Reserve, which not only threatened local bushland and wildlife but also posed safety risks, to those using it.
“The City has worked over the past few years to make this facility a realty, and we are appreciative of former Member for Tangney Ben Morton for his contribution and support.
“The Dyoondalup Bike Park promotes our commitment to a healthy and active community. We hope local riders enjoy using this great space, while staying safe and having fun.”