Council Vows To Demolish Illegal Circuit

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday June 9, 2005

By ANTONY FIELD

WOLLONGONG City Council will demolish an illegal motorcycle track built on council land near Wollongong Lawn Cemetery this week.

The council's property manager Peter Coyte and the cemetery manager inspected the track off Orana Parade, Kembla Grange yesterday.

The track's construction is the latest episode in a series of problems with trail bike riders in the area. There have been reports of graves being run over, including a baby's grave.

Mr Coyte said the council received two complaints on Monday from residents concerned about noise and speeding motorcycles. "Also there'd been a truck with a bobcat down here constructing the track," he said.

Mr Coyte said the site was well organised and had all the normal features of a motocross track, but it went within 250 to 300m of the graves.

The land was bought by the council for future expansion of the cemetery.

Mr Coyte said the council was treating matter seriously and those involved could face fines of up to $1100 for improper use of council property. "It's trespass as well ... we've had some very good co-operation from the police. They'll be conducting visits over the weekend with their trail bike squad."

Not only were there insurance implications for the council if someone was hurt while riding illegally on the site, the motorcyclists were disturbing neighbours and the people visiting their loved ones at the cemetery.

The council's cemeteries and crematorium operations manager Jane Turnbull said motorcyclists had raced through the cemetery near graves and, in some cases, over them.

"We've had one complaint from a family who lost a baby and there were tyre prints across the grave," she said.

"That is just distressing ... it's a cemetery - it should be treated with respect and dignity."

Council staff have been told not to approach trail bike riders after a staff member was attacked by a motorcyclist about 18 months ago. Anyone who sees motorcyclists using the track or riding in the cemetery is urged to contact Lake Illawarra police.

© 2005 Illawarra Mercury

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