A Kahibah dad has called for a dedicated bike park in east Lake Macquarie after a series of trails and jumps used by dozens of school-aged children were recently destroyed in the suburb.
Jason Coates says his son and of a host of others that rode and maintained bike jumps in bushland between residential properties and the Fernleigh Track have been left "disillusioned" as to why the site was levelled.
Mr Coates said the trails were destroyed without warning and there had been no notification as to why they needed to be cleared.
"We are often critical of our youth about being stuck at home on electronics but when they go to the effort of building tracks and some community spirit, [they get knocked down]," he said.
"The kids had done such an amazing job in there with different trails and mountain-biking is such a huge thing at the moment."
A National Parks spokesperson confirmed on Friday the land had been cleared by the service in conjunction with NSW Crown Lands.
"Illegal bike structures are a risk to public safety and cause significant impacts to Glenrock's special conservation values," the spokesperson said.
"There are several threatened species where the Fallins Street structures were removed.
"People found installing illegal structures can face penalties including clean-up costs."
Mr Coates acknowledges that clearing the trails may have been justified, but he said the site's destruction had been a blow to the area's youth with wood chip and branches placed across the tracks.
"It was creating a bit of community among the kids," he said.
"By knocking down the tracks, they've knocked down the spirit of the kids.
"It was right in the middle of the lockdown when the kids were on holidays."
He said Lake Macquarie council should investigate building a bike park, similar to those in other parts of the country that have jumps catering to riders of varying skill levels or a track with rolling humps and berms that can be used by most.
They are a similar concept to skate parks, with the Port Macquarie Urban Mountain Bike Park an example.
"Like Glenrock, it could be an attraction for tourists or other people to come to our community," Mr Coates said.
A council spokesperson said Lake Macquarie was "home to a range of quality cycling, mountain-biking and walking trails that cater for all levels of experience".
"We have [BMX tracks] at Argenton and Cameron Park, and more than 12 skate/bmx facilities across the city. Formalised cross-country bike trails are also located in [Awaba] and [Glenrock]."
Two "purpose-built BMX facilities", listed in the Charlestown and Belmont contributions plans, will also be built in Redhead and Belmont in coming years, the spokesperson said.
