Passionate and talented BMX rider Jack Millard was shocked to discover the BMX track he and his friends used almost every day had been demolished to make way for the new police station.
Local kids and parents are rallying together to get answers and will be distributing a petition soon.
Two local mothers told The Roxby Downs Sun they heard bulldozers from the Lions Park but had no idea until it was too late it was the track getting demolished.
They did not know why until seeing an article in The Roxby Downs Sun on December 17 about the police station construction.
“We were very confused, at first we hoped they were just upgrading or remodelling the BMX track,” local mum Kat Wallis said.
“When we heard … we thought okay, we probably need those services upgraded, but where have they moved the track to?
“We enjoyed sitting having a coffee, talking and watching the kids have fun. The kids were always trying new tricks … it was a great place for the kids to mix with older kids and teenagers. They don’t get that anywhere else.”
Jack’s mum Tracey Millard said there was no longer a safe legal place for BMX riders to ride.
“The kids can’t ride their bikes at the skate park or on foot paths so where do they ride?
“All we want to know is whether the council are going to build another BMX track or not.”
Both mums said they did not see or hear any public notice notifying the community the track was getting demolished.
“Public notices should have been put up and a new BMX track should have been built before they demolished the old one,” Ms Wallis said.
“A lot of kids use the track and now they have nowhere safe to ride.” Mrs Millard said.
Ms Wallis said older kids in town needed somewhere to go and be active.
“The Lions Park skate park is great but it is very small and is too crowded after school and on weekends nowadays.
Jack pointed out bikes are strictly prohibited on the skate park.Mrs Millard, who had hoped to re-form a BMX club in Roxby Downs and has contacted BMX Australia for details, has taken action and gone to the council office twice for answers.
Jack has won countless BMX trophies and medals including seventh place at the South Australian Redline State Championships, and was happy to learn Roxby had a BMX track he could continue riding on when his family moved to Roxby a 18 months ago.
He has since been forced to sell his expensive professional riding bike because he now has nowhere to ride it.
“I would like a BMX track with free style jumps that you can go down the other side and plain dirt jumps,” Joel Meyer, 8, said.
“I liked the BMX track, I could go fast and also I could do the jumps. I hope they build a new one soon,” Sam Taylor, 6, said.
“I used the track almost every day, I was not happy, there is nowhere else to ride or do jumps, I miss hanging out with my friends and doing jumps,” Jack Millard, 12, said.
Mrs Millard and Ms Wallis said they think the council and State Government should fast track a new BMX track and other recreational facilities for older kids and teens so they have somewhere to use their energy.
“I also think that local kids and teens should have a say in the design, after all they are the ones who will be using it.
“From a parents point of view I feel it also needs to be somewhere easily accessible and visible like the old one,” Ms Wallis said.
The Roxby Downs Sun contacted the Roxby Downs Council last week about the issue and at the time this went to print yesterday the council had not responded.
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