Quantity of clay soil
The proposed volume of clay soil to build the jump(s) is 1m³
Open for feedback
Should we make the temporary bike jumps permanent?
Over recent years, tamariki have created bike jumps in Waiwetu Reserve, which led to surrounding residents raising concerns with council.
While informal jumps were not appropriate in Waiwetu Reserve, council does support this type of activity, in the right location. A temporary bike jump area was proposed in Jeffreys Reserve to support a diverse use of our parks and reserves. In May 2025 the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimari-Harewood Community Board approved temporary bike jumps to be trialled.
A clay bike jump was built in the park by local tamariki and it has been trialled for the past eight months.
We would now like to hear how the trial has gone, before asking the Community Board to decide whether or not to make the bike jump area permanent.
If they decide to make it permanent, jumps would be built in the same location using asphalt.
Building the jumps
After the Community Board approved a trial of the bike jumps at Jeffreys Reserve, local tamariki built the jumps with support from their teachers, using clay funded by Council. See the tamariki in action below by clicking on a photo.
Previous consultation
In February 2025, we asked people whether they supported trialling the bike jumps that local tamariki had created.
We received feedback from Spokes Canterbury and 27 individuals, with mixed views on whether bike jumps in Jeffrey Reserve was a good idea. Find out more about the feedback we received.
On 12 May 2025, the Waimāero Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board decided to trial the bike jumps for eight months. Find out more about the decision meeting here.
Local tamariki have been making bike jumps in Waiwetu Reserve, and while unplanned activities are not always ideal, Council encourages diverse use of our parks and reserves. So, we’re planning to develop temporary bike jumps, in a more suitable location away from boundary fences and the sports field.
The plan
We propose supplying clay soil for tamariki to build bike jumps near the playground (see image below).
This location is most suitable because it is:
- 40m away from boundary fences
- outside of the sports field boundary
- does not impact park maintenance (i.e. lawn mowing, and landscaping)
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Monthly checks
If approved, the jump(s) would be on a 6-month trial and monitored by staff once a month.
Why will they be temporary?
Installing temporary bike jumps allows us to remove them quickly and at a lower cost should any problems arise after their installation.
We appreciate all feedback and were pleased to hear the Reserve is a well-used space that currently shared with dog walkers, commuters, runners, walkers, whānau gathering for kai and connection, play space users, and older recreational users.
Since the decision was made, our Parks staff and other Council's staff continue to observe activity in the Reserve and carefully consider feedback received before, during and after the consultation.
Alternative locations
Previous submissions suggested alternative locations, and we explored a range of options. Fendalton Park and Burnside Park were considered, as they offer larger areas for park users. However, local tamariki would need to cross several main roads to access these sites, which raised safety concerns.
We also assessed different locations within the Reserve. After considering safe distances from pathways, boundary fences, flood management zones, and nearby homes, the current location was selected as the most cost-efficient and safest option.
Trees
Many community members raised concerns about the recently planted trees. Council teams worked together to ensure the bike jumps were located in an area that avoids impacts on trees and vegetation. We have also reviewed customer enquiries and service requests, and at this stage, we are not aware of any reported damage.
Safety concerns relating to the road
Some community members were concerned that the bike jumps may attract increased use of the Reserve, which could lead to parking pressure or road safety issues.
Based on observations during the trial, we have not identified any parking pressure to date. The Reserve has multiple access points, with many users accessing the area via connecting streets such as Thornycroft Street and Waiwetu Street, or directly from the footpath. At this stage, no complaints or reports relating to road safety or parking issues have been received during the trial.
