Media response - Sellicks Beach dirt jumps
Published on 02 June 2025
Response to the Fleurieu Sun.
- Looking at running a story on the petition to preserve the Sellicks Beach dirt bike ramps. They are unauthorised and I believe council is reviewing them at the moment. Could we get a few comments on this and the reasons behind the review?
Comments attributed to Acting Director Operations, Matt Buckell
We understand the dirt jumps at Sellicks Beach have become a popular spot for children and young people in the area, and we appreciate the community’s passion and ingenuity.
We also realise how vital it is to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for young people. That’s why we provide and maintain 22 designated bike jump sites across Onkaparinga – including at Sellicks Beach’s nearby Hastings Avenue reserve – and invest in new infrastructure such as the recently opened Aldinga skate park, responding to the community’s changing needs.
The site at Sellicks is Crown land under the council’s care and control.
It’s part of a natural, coastal environment that includes native vegetation and is subject to coastal erosion pressures, and it’s also culturally important. It’s the council’s responsibility to consider all of this and ensure the area is appropriately managed in accordance with legislative requirements.
We’ve installed temporary signage to advise the community while we’re reviewing the site, and the signage directs the community to our website where you’ll find more information about the importance of riding at designated jump sites, and the locations of 22 designated jump sites.
We’re committed to working with young people and providing safe, sustainable and fun spaces for all riders. That’s why we’re soon commencing a pilot program to empower the BMX community and foster a more collaborative approach to bike jump maintenance.
The initiative will initially focus on two sites and incorporate a process where contractors first undertake machine-based groundwork, followed by a community dig day led by council representatives.
This aims to upskill participants in shaping, maintaining, and sustaining BMX jump sites while ensuring safety, accessibility, and alignment with best practices in the sport.
ENDS