Youths who have seen their illegal bike jumps destroyed in recent years may soon have a park to call their own.
Baw Baw Shire councillors unanimously approved $22,000 be allocated within its 2025/26 budget for preliminary planning and investigation of a new dirt jumps park in Drouin.
Cr Ben Lucas was excited by the progress after being alerted to the possibility during a chat with youths riding mountain bikes in Civic Park.
"This is a win for all bike riders in the shire but particularly to the group of kids that stopped me down at the park that day," Cr Lucas said. "Conversation matters, connection and community matters."
"All going well, we may see this project realised within 12 months," he said.
An officer report outlined the most appropriate sites for such a park were McNeilly Park (south) in Jackson Drive, Fern Tree Park in Staghorn Way or Bellbird Park in Shillinglaw Rd.
It noted the Baw Baw Cycling Project Reference Group had considered Bellbird Park as one of three possible locations for a cycling precinct.
Based on recent Warragul pump track quotes, the report estimated a detailed design would cost $23,000. The dirt jump parks could cost anywhere from $50,000 to $3 million, the report said.
A recent project in Moonee Ponds, designed as a solution to reduce the amount of unauthorised dirt jumps, was opened at a total cost of $495,000.
The $22,000 council allocation follows a 2023 community petition to bring back mountain bike jumps in Warragul's Chesterfield Park Estate.
At the time, councillors acknowledged the public safety risk of unauthorised structures, including bike jumps, on council land and authorised their removal.
Other unauthorised trails and jumps have been reported at locations including Civic Park and Lovell Drv in Warragul and Bellbird Park and Jack Butler Park in Drouin.
Cr Lucas said a Drouin park was a more tangible and cost beneficial option but hoped it could act as a catalyst for similar parks in areas like Willow Grove, Neerim and Longwarry.
"This is one of the fastest growing sports getting around at the moment and we are a little behind the eight ball," he said. "But I really feel like we can catch up with some solid investment."
Cr Jess Hamilton said health and fitness were important to her and this initiative had the potential to provide outdoor activity and get kids off screens.
"Facilities like these are greatly needed and would make a significant difference in promoting healthier, more active lifestyles among young and old," Cr Hamilton said.
Cr Paul Pratt told councillors about stumbling across a community-built BMX track recently in Adelaide.
He said before spending $22,000, council should get advice from Charles Sturt Council who allowed the bold initiative and start working with local kids and their families at underutilised council sites.
"In recent times, our council has gone around knocking over numerous bike jumps that the kids have worked really hard to put together," Cr Pratt said. "If we'd been a little bit bold and managed the risks, these could have remained and been enjoyed by those who created."
"Be bold, let our kids be kids, give them some ownership in our community...I think this can be a win, win, win for all involved," he said.
Cr Adam Sheehan said it was a great outcome after multiple examples of unauthorised jumps and trails across the shire.
"We're going to support the obvious needs of our community, not just condemn any positive actions of our youth," Cr Sheehan said.
He said money spent on youth was not a waste and "I'm glad, that as a councillor group, we understand the community demand for such recreational activities".
Although understanding why dirt jumps were removed, Cr Kate Wilson said she was heartbroken and believed "surely we can do something more than stop that amazing initiative."
A regular at Haunted Hills, Cr Wilson said "I think this is a really amazing asset we will bring to the community, even if it's little piece by little piece".