DESTRUCTIVE motorbike riding on an environmental site has caused a Mannum volunteer to consider stopping his work looking after a section of roadside vegetation near Palmer. The Bush for Life volunteer, who asked not to be named for safety reasons, has been caring for vegetation on the Mannum to Palmer road since September and is being discouraged by continuous damage to vegetation through illegal motorbike riding.
“Over the past three weeks it has been getting worse and they (motorbike riders) destroy it all the time,” the volunteer said.
“This is just deliberate damage on an environmental site.”
Previous visits to this site by The Standard have revealed motorbike tracks eroding into the earth and rubbish left by campers.
Last week the damage appeared more widespread and the Bush for Life volunteer had tried to deter motorbike riders from the area by placing signs up and barricading areas with red tape.
The volunteer said the KESAB Road Watch area had been targeted for rubbish dumping as well.
The signs had recently been removed from the area and the volume of rubbish was concerning.
“This is the last stand now, if we can’t stop it we’ve got to pull out,” the volunteer said.
Bush for Life field operations manager An-drew Allanson said there had been “a huge amount of damage done to it (the site) ... primarily it’s the motorbikes” in the past six months.
“The Bush for Life program involves volunteers, the question is, should we be asking a volunteer to work on a piece of land that has so much recreational damage done to it, “ Mr Allanson said.
“It (motorbike riding on roadside reserves) is a continuing issue in the Mount Lofty and Murray Mallee areas.
“The trail bike riding clubs that we are aware of appear to be really responsible riders, it’s the element that aren’t members that are irresponsible riders.”
Mid Murray Council environmental services manager Kelvin Gold-stone said the council had been looking at ways to address the problem.
He said the council was planning to erect signs prohibiting motorbike riding on roadside and council reserves.
“Once those signs are up we are looking at policing it, we are looking at having a bit of a blitz,” Mr Goldstone said.
“It’s a huge problem, it’s very very difficult to control.”