Tonganah torment on rail trail

Wally Rich with the rail trail behind him at Tonganah.

A Tonganah resident has detailed constant torment at the hands of trail bike riders illegally using the North East Rail Trail behind his property.

Wally Rich said he had contacted Dorset Council and Tasmania Police to complain about what he says is ongoing harassment.

“The rail trail runs only a few metres in front of my house and the bikes are constantly tormenting us. Every time you go out and tell them to move on, they just rev up and carry on even more to torment us,” Mr Rich said.

“One is a red and white trail bike and the other is yellow and white but you can’t tell who is riding them behind the helmets. They have been doing it every other day on and off since Christmas for an hour or more at a time.

“They go up to the gate and do donuts and carry on and one fellow was giving me a hell of cheek.

“I am 72 and have a dicky ticker and I just want peace and quiet. I don’t need this in my life.

“I have opened the gate near the entrance to my paddock and blocked the entrance to the trail so they couldn’t get through and they haven’t been back since but I am getting a bad name for stopping the community using it.”

Mayor Rhys Beattie said any complaints that have been received were currently under investigation. 

“As these processes are ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time,” he said.

Dorset Council says motor vehicles and powered recreational vehicles, except compliant power assisted bicycles as defined under Tasmanian law, are not permitted unless expressly authorised by the corridor manager.