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Petition to retain Old Bathurst Road and Nichols Pde (DH tracks in the Blue Mountains)
Hello
As brief intro I am Alan David and have been involved in some trail advocacy work with the Blue Mountains City Council where we are working toward legitimate trails in the Blue mountains area.
We are initially focused on two Downhill tracks at Old Bathurst Road (Blaxland) and Nichols Pde (Mt Riverview).
Council has taken the initiative to commission a report on feasibility by council employees (Bushland Management) who have been working with volunteers and a small group of representatives (myself included).
Nichols pde is somewhat contentious, particularly as shuttle runs have increased on the track as the name has come out (note: builders actively promoted the track so as to get attention to it as part of the above submission process). This has somewhat back fired as residents (approx 10 households) have actively contacted council to voice their protest to tracks in their area. Further, my efforts to communicate subsequent track closures did not get out sufficiently given my initial focus on one forum only.
The advocacy group have attempted to counter this with concerted efforts to get rider/residents through out the BMCC area and "out of towners" to show their support and demand for legitimate tracks.
At this stage, feedback I have obtained is that rider/residents are increasing in numbers and have shown great passion and the ability to articulate their needs and desire to build and maintain sustainable and legitimate trails.
As a lesson learn to the Nichols pde track closure message failure. I am atttempting to spread the message to the broader riding community, especially given the recent successes we have had in supporting locals with Manly Dam and in attending the recent Friends of Narrabeen lagoon presentations.
Please refer to the below link for more details, and please take time to send an email to all BMCC councillors your support and needs for legitimate and sustainabily built trail networks.
Thank you for your time and effort in supporting trail advocates
Cheers
Alan
http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/show...-Threat/p...
Note: there are a few threads however above is the main effort
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Seems like the link was shortened in a copy/paste action and now returns a 404 page error.
http://www.rotorburn.com/forums/showthread.php?1...
This page has the email address of the councilors
Nerfs given some drafts, but cut and pastes unless changed significantly only count as 1 email
But it gives you an idea
As with Manly Dam, the more emails the better
And well done to the Nerf Herder
Puts a lot of time into this for a bloke from inner city Sydney
I live in Perith so I consider this to be local to me, and will try to support with what I can. I have sent an email to all of the address's listed. I will also look into this volunteer group.
Hi ChopStir. Bottom little bit of OBR is in Penrith council.... Al is it worth getting Penrith locals to contact their council too or should we not rock the boat while they are happy to turn a blind eye?
Kinda got my hands full with BMCC ... and one of my requests will be for assistance from both Councillors and Council employees to assist in approaches to Penrith City Council.
However, also envisage a similar petition at some stage to help demonstrate demand, and counter complaints from the house at the pickup point.
Thanks for fixing my links and cheers to those getting involved.
If you are interested in a face to face update and general meet & greet.
I am organising a briefing this Sunday 7th March Bowaga Ave @ 9am.
Al
Thanks to Bryn and Jill for taking time out of their busy schedules to write in to councillors to support the effort.
Please take time out to send your message of support.
[Bryn's Email]
Dear Councillors
As a professional Downhill mountain biker, and resident of the Blue Mountains area, I regularly train at Old Bathurst road (OBR), to prepare for the International Mountain Bike season. The World Cup race season runs from April through September, so in the summer months, I am a regular on the trails. This trail network has been here for years, and are extremely valuable training grounds not only for myself but for anyone wanting to try their hand at some Downhill Mountain Biking.
There are other routes to go down as far as trail maintenance goes, with the sport taking off in community's all over Australia, there are now Mountain Bike specific Trail builders that work directly on trail sustainability. 'World Trail' ( www.world-trail.com ) being one of the premier trail building companies in the world, could be of great assistance in the growth and sustainability of this healthy sport in the Blue Mountains.
Mountain Biking is a relatively young sport, that is just now beginning to find it's feet. Mountain Biking has given me most all that I have, and I've met some great people through this sport. I'm proud to be part of such a healthy, friendly community. It would be a shame to see these trails shut down.
Thanks for your time.
Bryn Atkinson
Bryn Atkinson
Transition Bicycle Company
Fox - Crankbrothers - KORE - Maxxis
THE - E13 - Dakine - ODI - Oakley
Pinstripe - CadenceWorks - Jagwire
Obtanium - Cane Creek - CTi
[Jill's Email]
Dear Councillors,
I am writing on behalf of mountain bike community in the Blue Mountain area to save the Old Bathurst Downhill trails. As a part time resident of Wentworth Falls for the past five summers, and full time professional International mountain bike racer for the last seven years, this issue is of particular concern.
The Old Bathurst downhill trails are one of the best training locations in the mountains; they offer unique terrain, technical difficulty, length, diversity, and are accessible. These qualities, believe it or not, are quite hard to find for our sport. Being American, I am not too familiar with how the system works with council, but I can imagine it is easier to keep a natural track open than to build a community centre or skate park.
Downhill has very little impact on the environment. Winding trails through existing trees and terrain hardly seems like an issue for closure. Ski Resorts embrace this sport as healthy and sustainable, but not everyone lives near a ski resort, so at a grass roots level the community needs places close to home to be able to ride. Government funding in this sport is almost nonexistent, so this hillside is important to us for developing skills, getting exercise, and enjoying the nature.
The Council can achieve more for the community by letting these trails continue to flourish.
Thank you.
Jill Kintner
JILL KINTNER
Olympic Bronze medalist- BMX
3 Time World Champion- MTB
WEB: www.jillkintner.com
"Public Meeting to discuss illegal downhill mountain bike tracks Concerned residents of Mt Riverview, Blaxland and Emu Heights are coming together to discuss their objections to the illegal tracks damaging our escarpment. Sunday, March 14th at 4 p.m at Mt Riverview Public School Hall"
There is an opportunity for residents supporting rider efforts to politely, articulately yet passionately show their support for Legitimate trails in the Blue Mountains.
This is not an opportunity to be confrontational, and instead is an opportunity for the riding community and residents that support legitimate trails to provide affected residents comfort that the majority of riders are willing to help minimise any environmental impact, are willing to volunteer for maintenance days, are will to support a rider code of conduct aimed at minimising impact to residents whether at Nichols or else where.
To highlight some of the concerns raised to councillors to date
i) paint on trees
ii) soil erosion
iii) trees pull down
iv) louts blocking driveways ... then laying rubber up the street (real smart that one)
v) entry speeds (could run over people/kids)
vi) walkers can't hear us coming
vii) riding the track when it was closed (another smart one)
Please attend if you are able.
NOTE: This is a Nichols Pde residents organised event, not a riding community organised event