Parks Victoria, Victoria Police, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and the Conservation Regulator have joined forces to crack down on illegal trailbike riding in the Great Otway National Park and Otway Forest Park.
Parks Victoria said off-road trailbike riding damaged the environment and could place other members of the public at risk.
“More than 80 people have received infringement notices for illegal trailbike riding in the Great Otway National Park and Otway Forest Park during recent months,” Parks Victoria said.
“The notices, which included individual fines of up to $860 and totalled more $17,000, were issued during two weekend operations,” it said.
“Trailbike riding is legally allowed within many state forests and parks however riders must remain on designated vehicle tracks.”
Parks Victoria said the operations were the latest in an ongoing effort to protect the area, as it was significant for its unique plants and wildlife.
“The Great Otway National Park and Otway Forest Park are homes to a diversity of native animals, including species that are extinct elsewhere such as the Long-nosed Potoroo, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Dusky and Swamp Antechinus and Spot-tailed Quoll,” it said.
Ranger Team Leader for Parks Victoria, Scott Nicholson said that with thousands of kilometres of designated tracks available for legal trailbike riding there was no excuse for going off-road and damaging the environment.
