Dakar champ battles to save iconic training facility

Dakar champ Daniel Sanders is fighting to save his riding facility from closure by a local council in Victoria.

The private facility at Three Bridges, in the Warburton Valley, sits on the Sanders family property, which also hosts their successful third-generation apple orchard.

According to Sanders, the venue has been hosting events for more than 40 years, including races, coaching days, ride days, fundraisers, and recreational trail rides. It has long played an important role in Victorian motorcycle sport by giving off-road riders a safe and legal place to train and compete.

Related: Daniel Sanders wins 2025 Dakar Rally

But the Yarra Ranges Council now wants the facility to cease operations, arguing there are no proven “existing use rights.”

In Australia, existing use rights allow a property to continue operating for a lawful purpose even if zoning or planning rules have since changed. For example, a factory built on land that was later rezoned as residential may continue to operate under those rights.

The Sanders family was asked by the council to provide evidence of the property’s use over a 15-year period. Despite presenting proof of events, including Australian and Victorian championship rounds, and receiving support from Motorcycling Australia, the council determined the evidence was insufficient.

Sanders said in an Instagram post that the dispute will now be heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). He has also appealed for assistance from planning law experts willing to support the case.

In an interview on the Today Show, Sanders credited the property with shaping his career and helping him succeed on both the domestic and international stage. Earlier this year, he won his first Dakar Rally title, becoming only the second Australian to achieve the feat after Toby Price.

Sanders has asked anyone who can help save the facility to contact him via Instagram (@danielsanders_11) or email him at daniel@chucky11.com.