Have Your Say

At a glance

The City invited the community to provide feedback on a District Ride Centre in Kingston Park, Ocean Grove.

A District Ride Centre is a bike facility that contains features such as a jump park, pump track, and skills and trials area, and can accommodate approximately 100 riders at any time.

  • Following the community engagement held in July and August 2022 (engagement report can be found here), a Submissions Review Panel was held and all who made a submission were invited to attend to present their concerns or feedback to a panel of Councillors.
  • At the 22 November 2022 meeting, Council, in recognition of both the general support for the location and the concerns raised by objectors, noted that Kingston Park remains the preferred location, and endorsed the formation of a Community Reference Group to assist in the detailed design.
  • The Community Reference Group was appointed in April 2023 following an Expression of Interest process and worked through a series of workshops with the design consultant, World Trail, to progress the detailed design.
  • A Council report was prepared, and at the December 2023 Council meeting, Council carried the resolution to:
    1. Note the report on outcomes of the Ocean Grove District Ride Centre Community Reference Group and how the matters raised in the Submissions Review Panel process were considered and addressed within the preliminary detailed design;
    2. Thank the members of the Ocean Grove District Ride Centre Community Reference Group for their time and contributions; and
    3. Note that detailed design is anticipated to be completed by mid–2024.

Read Project Updates, and Background below for more detail.

PROJECT UPDATES

PROJECT UPDATE - 13 DECEMBER 2023

At the December 2023 Council meeting, Council carried the resolution to:

  1. Note the report on outcomes of the Ocean Grove District Ride Centre Community Reference Group and how the matters raised in the Submissions Review Panel process were considered and addressed within the preliminary detailed design;
  2. Thank the members of the Ocean Grove District Ride Centre Community Reference Group for their time and contributions; and
  3. Note that detailed design is anticipated to be completed by mid–2024.

Continue following the page to stay up to date as the project progresses.

PROJECT UPDATE - 27 NOVEMBER 2023

Due to delays in obtaining a cost plan, and a high number of agenda items already scheduled for the November meeting, the Council Report has been rescheduled for the December 2023 Council meeting.

Following the December 2023 meeting we will provide a project update. Make sure you are following the page to receive these updates.

PROJECT UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 2023

The Community Reference Group had their last workshop in August 2023 and a Council Report is underway. The Council Report for the project has been moved from the October 2023 Council meeting to the November 2023 Council meeting as we are in the process of getting a cost plan prepared by an independent Quantity Surveyor for inclusion in the Council Report. This is to ensure Council understands the construction costs when making their decision on whether to progress with the detailed design of the project.

Following the November 2023 Council meeting we will provide you with a project update. Make sure you are following the page to receive these updates.

PROJECT UPDATE - JUNE, 2023

The Community Reference Group was appointed in April 2023 and are working through a series of workshops with the design consultant, World Trail, to progress the detailed design. The last workshop will be held in August and following this a Council Report prepared for the October Council meeting.

PROJECT UPDATE - 30 NOVEMBER, 2022

Following the community engagement held in July and August this year, a Submission Review Panel was held on 12 October 2022. All those who had made a submission whether in objection or in support of the project were invited to present their concerns or feedback to a panel of Councillors.

Objectors’ concerns included the potential impact on traffic, a lack of safe pedestrian and cycling connections to the site, along with the loss of open space and off-leash dog areas, and potential overflow impacts to the rest of the reserve.

Following the Submissions Review Panel a Council report was prepared and Council considered the report at the 22 November meeting 2022. The report included a detailed engagement summary report, summary of key issues identified in all formal submissions, and the meeting minutes and a petition tabled at the Submissions Review Panel. The Council report can be found here. Community Engagement Summary Report can be found here or in the Document Library section located on the right hand side of this page.

At the 22 November meeting, Council, in recognition of both the general support for the location and the concerns raised by objectors, noted that Kingston Park remains the preferred location, and endorsed the formation of a Community Reference Group to assist in the detailed design.

The Terms of Reference are currently being prepared and an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Community Reference Group will go out in early 2023.

Following the detailed design process involving the Community Reference Group, report with a recommendation will come before the Council by October 2023.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Following the removal of the makeshift jumps within Woodlands Reserve in 2020, Council proceeded to engage with the Ocean Grove community to develop a concept plan for their replacement. This process identified key issues with the existing Woodlands Reserve location, and it was agreed to find an alternative location within Ocean Grove for a District Ride Centre.

Over 60 per cent of the makeshift bike jumps created during the COVID pandemic were located in the suburbs of Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove. A site selection process was undertaken by Synergy Trails to identify potential sites for a District Ride Centre within Ocean Grove. Each site was assessed against a set of criteria, and through this process Kingston Park was determined as the most suitable site in which to locate this facility, as the only district level park in Ocean Grove with existing amenities, in a central location.

  • District Ride Centre Draft Concept Plan

    Key features include:

    • 80 - 100 m long dirt jump lines with jump lines to suit all rider skill levels
    • Asphalt pump track aimed at beginner to intermediate riders, designed to encourage rider progression
    • Skills & trials features designed to improve rider control, stability and confidence
    • Central hub with shelter and seating
    • The District Ride Centre will be fully fenced from the rest of the park.
    Click through to view more 

How To Share Your Feedback

We would like to know whether you support/don't support the location of a District Ride Centre in Kingston Park and your feedback on the draft concept plan for the District Ride Centre.

Please review the draft concept plan and provide your feedback below, including any thoughts or any ideas you might have on the different features and layout. Your feedback will help us understand if the community supports the location of a District Ride Centre in Kingston Park, and if so help guide the development of the concept plan.

Your feedback is important to us, please visit any one or more of the multiple options below to have your say: -

  • Our Quick Poll to show if you do /don't support the location of a District Ride Centre in Kingston Park. If you have time, we recommend you take our survey or lodge a formal submission to tell us why.
  • Our short survey to provide further feedback, including detailed feedback on the draft concept plan.
  • Lodge a formal submission. You will be required to include your name, postal address, a contact number, email address and details of your submission. Your submission will be progressed in accordance with Councils 'Approval Procedure for Open Space Projects'.
  • Come and have a chat with the project team, we will be onsite on two separate occasions. Details below. If you are unable to attend but would like to speak to an officer, please contact Emma Foster on 5272 4800 or Emma.Foster@geelongcity.vic.gov.au