Ravenswood, Mowbray and Newnham community centres open to public trail bike track

The Northern Suburbs Community Centre and Starting Point Neighbourhood House said a public trail had been regularly discussed and that it could be an answer to ongoing concerns about unsafe bike use.

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Those concerns were highlighted by Tasmania Police and the Ravenswood Heights Primary School which had been somewhat of an epicentre of illegal bike riding.

Tasmania Police said there had been ongoing complaints from the community about noise, safety and property damage.

The message came just under six months after a 17-year-old died following a trail bike crash on a suburban Newnham street.

Northern Suburbs Community Centre general manager Trish O'Duffy said the trail bike quandary was one regularly raised by members of the community, with both sides of the debate typically represented.

She said she would be in favour of any solution - such as a City of Launceston council owned and managed public trail bike track - that had gone through adequate community consultation and had community backing.

"I'm positive about any initiative that would help everyone in the community," Ms O'Duffy said.

"I would support any initiative that does not impact negatively on the community."

Ms O'Duffy's voice was joined by Starting Point Neighbourhood House manager Nettie Burr.

Ms Burr had earlier said community members voiced concerns about their own personal safety, and the safety of those using bikes.

But she was also open to the long-touted option of a public track.

Ms Burr said the fact previous approaches to a public track falling over meant the logistics would be difficult, but thought it remained a possibility if safety and wider community concerns could be addressed.

And the idea of a public track is not out of the realms of possibility.

While a private track at Rocherlea had a retrospective development application rejected by the City of Launceston council in June, it was not without any support, going into the meeting with a recommendation it be approved.

Despite that rejection, Mayor Albert van Zetten did not entirely quash the idea when asked in the wake of the police crackdown.

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"The council has not considered this matter at this stage," he said.

"... This said however, the City of Launceston is working with the Northern Tasmania Development Corporation and other northern councils to review sporting infrastructure needs over coming decades, and to identify priority projects across a range of sporting pursuits.

"The goal of this work is to help the region better prioritise infrastructure spending to allow for greater engagement in physical activity for Northern Tasmanian residents."

Though Cr van Zetten conceded providing motorsport facilities was not the "core business" for councils, with such facilities typically provided on a regional basis and through private clubs.

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