by Emma Ballingall
Young people have been asked to put forward their wish lists and generate ideas for a proposed mountain bike track and jumps in Drouin.

An informal briefing session at Drouin Community Hub on Wednesday afternoon was the first step, attracting youth and families to have their say on possible locations, features and what the final product should look like.
As attendees viewed maps and photographs, voted via QR codes and chatted with Baw Baw Shire councillors and staff, Cr Ben Lucas said "this isn't usually what we do."
"Put your wish list forward," Cr Lucas urged. "This is about generating ideas."
"We're a new group (of councillors) and we want you to have as much input as you can. That will give us some really good data to go ahead and get what you want."
Cr Danny Goss said Cr Lucas successfully advocated for $22,000 to be set aside in this year's budget to start planning a mountain bike track and jumps, specifically in Drouin.
Cr Goss said councillors were ready to listen to youth to understand what they needed from such a facility.
"We want to hear from you, the young people in the shire," he said. "If there are ideas out there, we're open to them."
Staff have identified three possible sites for the proposed facility - McNeilly Park (south) in Jacksons View Estate, Ferntree Park in Ferntree Ridge Estate and Bellbird Park.
Amongst the feature options in the survey are: berms, rollers (single or double), table top jumping, gap jumps, timber shark fin, wall ride, transition jumps, whale tail and elevated timber trail.
A mountain bike track has been a priority for local youth since COVID, when several "home-made" tracks were demolished by council following community complaints. Civic Park in Warragul also sustained significant vandalism in February 2024 by youth attempting to establisg up an illegal track.
Cr Lucas got the ball rolling on a purpose made facility after discussions with local youth in Drouin's Civic Park.
"There's a real need and a real groundswell for recreational activities like this," he told a council meeting earlier this year. "These kids have a voice and it should be heard. They've voiced very loudly that we need to put some cycling infrastructure in."
Planning for a mountain bike track and jumps follow the announcement of a $480,000 State Government grant for a bike pump track project in Warragul. Design has been finalised for the $600,000 project which will be located near the existing skate park.
Cr Lucas urged all community members - especially youth - to provide feedback on the mountain bike park via the survey. Follow the QR Code to participate or find out more.
Any community members wiling to assist in design, building or maintenance also are urged to identify themselves via the survey.
The survey will close on Tuesday, November 4.