Whittlesea Council is reminding residents that motorbikes don’t belong in parkland.

The warning comes after residents tabled a petition to Council in July complaining about the illegal use of off-road motorbikes in vacant land in the Mernda Villages Estate and Quarry Hills Parkland.

Council has investigated the issue in conjunction with local police.

Mayor, Cr Ricky Kirkham, said the bikes were a nuisance and posed a risk to people using the parkland.

“Motorbikes do not belong in public parkland and I urge residents to report any sightings to Victoria Police,” he said.

Cr Kirkham said the tracks being used by riders were for emergency vehicle, fire and maintenance access only.

“We will be working with the developer Stockland and the police to do all we can to reduce the number of motorcyclists illegally riding in this area,” he said.

“But we urge residents to contact police on 000 if they spot riders.”

Council is looking at ways to improve surveillance and registering nuisance complaints to support Victoria Police.

This will include the use of surveillance cameras and staff patrols in known hot spots for unlawful motor bike use in public parkland.

Victoria Police Inspector Anthony Ryan said police understood the problem of illegal motorbike use.

As well as reporting riders to police, Insp. Ryan urged residents to report ongoing bike issues to Council to help in providing the intelligence on where motorbikes are coming form including the times, locations, identities and addresses of riders.

“This will help us better target the problem areas, ” Insp. Ryan said.