Media response - BMX jumps

Published on 08 May 2024

Response to ABC Radio Adelaide.

• The producer asked for a response to claims some BMX jumps were removed at a local reserve, and some clarity around the council's position in regards to unauthorised jumps.

The City of Onkaparinga provides 22 authorised dirt/BMX jumps throughout the city, ranging from small beginner roller tracks to advance jump lines.

Council is notified of unauthorised dirt jumps/tracks built by the community. Council generally knocks down and removes unauthorised community jumps based on the following considerations:

• They are not part of our authorised jumps sets and/or audit program
• We have no control/influence over the following, which can present risks to other park users as well as the riders themselves:
  • Location to roads, trees and/or other nearby infrastructure
  • Design of jump height and japs, site lines, visibility for other park users
  • Construction methodology and if sticks and branches which may be a spearing hazard have been used as well as dirt dug from the park nearby could be a tripping hazard
  • Progression of jump heights to match a variety of skill levels
  • Environmental impact on tress and vegetation
  • Kaurna heritage impact
  • Access for emergency services if there was an incident
• Increased liability exposure if left onsite due to our knowledge of them
• Complaints from residents about noise, music, littering and abusive language.

However, we do also recognise that community-built dirt jumps can function as a 'community dirt garden', providing positive outlets for a generally overlooked cohort of our community who have limited knowledge about the political and/or government landscape.

As such, we are developing a procedure associated with unauthorised community dirt jumps. Recognising the community feedback for this site, we will engage with the riders regarding this site and how we can improve our communication with them and other riders in the future so this can inform the procedure.