Table of Contents
Concerns are growing over illegal dirt bike activity at Windsor Downs Nature Reserve, with local residents warning the behaviour is threatening public safety and damaging the protected environment.
The reserve, known for its peaceful walking tracks and abundant wildlife, is a popular destination for families, walkers and cyclists. Visitors regularly report sightings of kangaroos and, at times, deer in the early morning, making the area a valued natural asset for the Hawkesbury community.
However, residents say the increasing presence of dirt bikes within the reserve has changed the experience dramatically.
Despite clear signage prohibiting motorbikes, dirt bikes are frequently seen riding through walking tracks and footpaths at speed. Evidence of their use can be seen across the reserve, with skid and slide marks visible along many paths.
Locals say the activity poses a serious safety risk to pedestrians and cyclists. One resident described a near collision with a dirt bike while walking in the reserve, prompting a report to ranger services.
Following that report, additional signs were installed at several entry points to the reserve. However, residents say those signs have since been removed for reasons unknown, and the illegal riding has continued.
Dirt bikes have reportedly been seen along walkways between Arkell Drive and Berger Road, as well as through areas linking Berger Road, Fairey Road and Penruddock Street. Riders have also been observed using the footpath behind the soccer fields on Berger Road. In addition, residents have noticed a steady increase 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, adding that the speed of the bikes makes encounters unpredictable and frightening.
The reserve’s remote location is believed to make regular monitoring and enforcement difficult, raising questions about how authorities can better manage the issue.
Some community members have suggested technology-based solutions, including motion-activated cameras linked to ranger units or law enforcement to alert them to illegal activity in real time. Others have proposed a mobile reporting system that would allow residents to safely upload photos or evidence of illegal bike use to a central authority.
Residents say the issue highlights the need for a coordinated response that balances environmental protection, public safety and accessibility for the broader community.
Calls are now growing for authorities to work with locals to find practical solutions that will ensure Windsor Downs Nature Reserve remains a safe and welcoming place for all users.
The Gazette has asked NSW Parks and Wildlife Service for comment.
