City of Melville opens new mountain bike park

The City of Melville in Perth’s southern suburbs has officially opened its much-anticipated $1.48 million Dyoondalup Bike Park at Point Walter Reserve.

It 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.

Constructed by Common Ground Trails to provide a safe space for local riders to enjoy, its design resulted from the council having involved the local community, with particular engagement from local youth.

Speaking at a community celebration to mark its opening last Saturday (22nd June), City of Melville Mayor, Katy Mair stated “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.

“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 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.”

The council says the location of the new bike park 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 council 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.

In addition, its 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.

Image: A mountain biker tests the new Dyoondalup Bike Park during its opening last Saturday. Credit: City of Melville.