Queensland and New South Wales Police will be working together this weekend in an effort to target motorbike riders trespassing in the proposed Cobaki Lakes Estate development located between Boyd Street, Tugun and Piggabeen Road, Cobaki.
Trail bike riders accessing the development, which is privately owned, have been the subject of numerous complaints from local residents due to noise and damage caused to infrastructure. The activities of riders within the development have also resulted in damage valued at $300,000.
Riders have been accessing the estate by cutting through private and council owned land on the Queensland side of the border.
Anyone found trespassing in the development are likely to find themselves issued with on-the-spot fines of $350 by New South Wales Police. Motorbike riders may also find themselves issued with infringements for riding an unregistered and/or uninsured motorbike if riding on a gazetted road, in addition to being given noise abatement directions for excessive noise. Contravention of a noise abatement direction can result in a motorbike being impounded.
Senior Sergeant Meg McArthur, the acting Officer in Charge of Coolangatta Police Station, emphasised the importance of the operation.
“Riding trail bikes in areas not designed for such a purpose is a risk to the safety of the rider and trespassing on private property is an offence,” Senior Sergeant McArthur said.
“The safety of all members of the community is paramount and we are reminding people to ride only in authorised areas.”
This weekend’s operation will be the first of a series of measures to address the ongoing issue. Further enforcement operations are planned in coming weeks.
Entry to the development via Boyd Street has been blocked and a warning posted to trespassers.