Makk Eenhoorn at Ferndale Flats.
Camera IconMakk Eenhoorn at Ferndale Flats. Credit: Supplied/Marcelo Palacios

Park peace shattered

Sam Gibbs, Canning TimesCanning Gazette

Mr Eenhoorn said every couple of days illegal trail bike riders disrupted the peace and damaged the area in the Canning River Regional Park off Ferndale Crescent.

He said riders at Ferndale Flats caused severe damage and put plants and animals at risk.

‘These hoons are selfish and need to be educated,’ he said.

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‘It’s hard enough for volunteers to look after the parkland for people to enjoy without bikes riding through the area and ruining all their hard work.’

Mr Eenhoorn said he had raised the issue with the City of Canning but understood there was little they could do to prevent people riding motorbikes through the parklands.

‘The council do what they can but they don’t have the means to police these motorbikes,’ he said.

‘These bikes have to originate from somewhere before they go out to the park in the morning or late at night.

‘Maybe it is neighbours not wanting to dob each other in, but it’s up to everyone to stand up to not turn a blind eye.’

He said adult and young bike riders treated the parkland as their own racetrack.

City of Canning commissioner Linton Reynolds said he was aware of damage caused by trail bikes to vegetation but staff could not find any recent damage at Ferndale Flats.

‘The City of Canning encourages residents to notify us of this kind of activity, and to offer suggestions on the placement of signs and structures to prevent unauthorised access to restricted areas,’ Mr Reynolds said.

Mr Reynolds said some of the measures to prevent illegal trail bike riders included bollards, rails, swing gates and signs.

He said there were no plans to create paths for trail-bike riders.