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Concerns are growing among residents over illegal dirt bike activity at Windsor Downs Nature Reserve, with locals warning the behaviour is threatening public safety and damaging the protected natural environment.
The reserve, valued for its peaceful walking tracks and abundant wildlife, is a popular destination for families, walkers and cyclists across the Hawkesbury. Early morning visitors regularly report sightings of kangaroos and, at times, deer, reinforcing the area’s importance as a local natural asset.
However, residents say the experience has changed dramatically in recent months, with dirt bikes frequently seen riding at speed along walking tracks and footpaths despite clear signage prohibiting motorised vehicles.
Skid and slide marks are now visible along many paths throughout the reserve, providing ongoing evidence of unauthorised use. Locals say the activity poses a serious risk to pedestrians and cyclists, particularly families with young children.
One resident reported a near collision with a dirt bike while walking in the reserve, prompting a report to ranger services. While additional warning signs were installed at several entry points following the complaint, residents say those signs were later removed for reasons unknown and illegal riding has continued.
Dirt bikes have reportedly been seen along walkways between Arkell Drive and Berger Road, through areas linking Berger Road, Fairey Road and Penruddock Street, and on the footpath behind the soccer fields on Berger Road. Residents have also noted a rise in high-speed e-bikes and scooters using shared paths in the area.
Parents say the situation has made some families reluctant to continue using the reserve.
“The kids are now hesitant to be in areas they used to enjoy,” one local said. “The speed of the bikes makes encounters unpredictable and frightening.”
The reserve’s remote location is believed to make regular monitoring and enforcement challenging, prompting calls for a more coordinated response. Some community members have suggested technology-based solutions, including motion-activated cameras linked to ranger services or police, while others have proposed a mobile reporting system allowing residents to safely upload evidence of illegal activity.
In response to questions from The Gazette, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) confirmed that all authorised entry points to Windsor Downs Nature Reserve are clearly signposted to advise that trail bikes and other unauthorised vehicles are not permitted.
An NPWS spokesperson said the service receives numerous complaints each year about illegal trail bike activity, with increases typically occurring during school holiday periods. “To counter this, NPWS increases patrols during school holidays, monitors surveillance cameras, and undertakes community education and engagement,” the spokesperson said.
The community is encouraged to assist enforcement efforts by providing information on when illegal trail bike activity is occurring. The NPWS advises that helpful information includes the date, descriptions of bikes and riders, registration details if visible although most bikes are unregistered photos or videos if safe to do so, duration of the activity, and points of access to the reserve.
NPWS may also request support from the NSW Police Trail Bike Team, which has previously attended Windsor Downs Nature Reserve. Residents are advised to contact local police if trail bikes are using public roads, as such activity often extends beyond the reserve boundaries.
Regarding concerns about signage removal, the spokesperson said reports may relate to temporary track closure signs installed during a hazard reduction burn in April 2025.
The NPWS continues to repair fences damaged by illegal riders, with the most recent repairs carried out last month following a neighbour’s complaint. The spokesperson also confirmed plans for a new round of letterbox drops to surrounding residents, outlining the environmental impacts of illegal riding, the associated financial penalties, and urging neighbours who know people riding in the reserve to contact the Area Office.
Residents say they want to work with authorities to find practical solutions that protect the environment while ensuring Windsor Downs Nature Reserve remains safe and accessible for the broader community.
