‘It’s a safety issue’
The Duffy’s Forest and Terrey Hills community are calling on council to complete the upgrade on the 6.5-kilometre Community Bridle Trail (the trail) that connects both suburbs.
The trail is used by horse riders, cyclists, walkers, and runners. It runs from Anembo Reserve in Duffys Forest, through Terrey Hills, and under the Mona Vale Road to Forest Hills Pony Club at JJ Melbourne Memorials Reserve.
Council adopted a comprehensive action plan in May 2024, which covered short, medium and long-term steps to improve the community bridle trail.
It also received a $50,000 grant which allowed a horse and pedestrian footbridge to be constructed at Weemala Road Reserve to address safety issues.
The action plan divided the trail into nine sections that were each reviewed for issues of safety, environment and the rider experience. The work was to be carried out based on level of risk and budget allowances.
The Duffys Forest Residents Association (DFRA) said that a small section was resurfaced a couple of years ago and a section at 89 Booralie Road (pictured) was completed in the last year.
‘We need an all-weather pathway and maintenance to the side of the roads.’
Wendy Smallwood, DFRA president
“Even over such a limited stretch, the improvement is clear,” DFRA’s Michael Judge said.
“It demonstrates the significant uplift that could be achieved – and the safety and connectivity benefits that could be restored – with broader, much-needed investment.
“I think we’re now in the position where we need a more systematic approach to renewing the surfaces or we need a proper injection of capital.”
The DFRA is calling for a more systematic approach, for sections of the trail to be upgraded over time, or failing that, ‘a significant investment.’
At the end of April, the DFRA met with council and flagged its concerns, mainly related to safety and connectivity of the community. Now the group will prepare a submission for the 2026/27 budget.
“You’ve got to go through this budgeting process every year,” said Mr Judge.
“There is a bit of a ‘rinse-repeat’ nature to the budgeting process. But my opinion is there needs to be an allocation there every single year.”
Mr Judge said the service had been downgraded to an such an extent that it was no longer simply a case of maintenance. It was a safety issue.
“Because of neglect, it needs a pretty big uplift,” he said.
“You can’t walk from property A to property B, let alone from school A to school B. Whether you’re on foot, scooter, bike, horse or anything between, you are forced out onto an open road situation, which isn’t great.”
The Duffy’s Forest area has about 458 horses across 87 properties.
“There’s a big equestrian industry here,” said DFRA president Wendy Smallwood. “We’re not just people sitting in the bush.”
Ms Smallwood said council CEO Scott Phillips has been ‘excellent,’ and understood their concerns, and she praised council for what they had done so far – but said that more needed to be done.
“We need an all-weather pathway and maintenance to the side of the roads,” she said.
“If it’s raining school children walk through bog,” said Ms Smallwood. “Some walk on the road and it’s only got half a metre of verge. Children should have a path to go to school.”