Appin update for 25 Sep

BARSTOOLS!

Is it worth getting a pettition up and running, or is it too late?

This is unbelievable. I feel like i have been stooged!

Message from Dekka about the club racing status.

What’s going on ?

The short abridged story.

After months of negotiation with the CEO of Tharawal Land Council (TLC) Greg Bondar, things have come unstuck, big time.

With agreements initially drafted from MTB Australia , we went from $500 for a 3 year agreement to $5000 per year as Greg Bondar informed us that was the decision of the TLC board . WMBC finally agreed on the $5000 , being $2500 over 2 payments owing to Greg Bondar’s advice of “take it or leave it or he will put a fence around the place so no one can ride.” We were also informed that we could continue to ride whilst negotiations were progressing.

We questioned this amount of money, telling him that we will really struggle as a non profit club, he replied, telling us to have some raffles , get more riders and to get more sponsors. Martin from Rocky Trails came to us to run a 7/4 hour race on 29th Sept,. Rocky Trails advertised, got in contact with the local Appin community to organize food, camping….

I get a phone call from the TLC ( Elwin Brown) informing me that Greg Bondar had resigned for allegedly doing unauthorized things within the Land Council. When sorting out paperwork from Greg Bondar’s desk, they find this stuff from WMBC. No one on the board knew that we existed, Greg Bondar was telling us that he had submitted our agreements to the board when he had not. He continued to play us.

We did everything that he asked of us in order to have an agreement reached.

It was last Friday morning when I received the news of shutdown. We immediately were in contact explaining the state of affairs regarding Rocky Trails. TLC said they will get in contact with us by Friday night…. nothing. Finally late Saturday, contact, first thing Monday is the best they can do.

We cancel the club race for Sunday to keep in good with them and I go to Appin to explain to afull carpark what’s happening. Still waiting for TLC phone call , and we still haven’t informed Martin, as the acting CEO was very positive and aware of the situation, but she had to get the chairman to rule (where did he come from?) which will happen on Monday morning.

I contact Rocky Trials, told Martin , what has happened , a very painful conversation. Martin decided that he has got until Monday to change the venue and everything associated.

Monday 4pm finally get a call back from TLC, the board are going to vote on the matter and will have a result by 12 pm Tuesday . Phoned Martin, the horse has bolted, he can’t wait for a decision that might go either way , so he moved the race to Ourimbah. The Appin Community has lost out, WMBC has lost out and might not be allowed back if that happens….

It’s clear to see that the TLC can’t see the advantage and potential of having WMBC involved with the management and care of their land, is there another agenda for Appin?

Lunchtime Tuesday, let’s see what happens. Rocky Trails is gone, maybe we’re gone. It’s been a long 4 days.

Well the call came, like a ton of bricks. Track closed for all riders due to the environmental damage and the amount of locks and gates broken for people to gain access. I asked whether we could enter into talks in order to reach an agreement and was told that the board is solid on this decision. I told them that without WMBC the land is going to be damaged severely by motorbikes and 4WD’s. The CEO knows this , but it was the decision of the board. We might be able to approach the new board when it is elected in Sept 2013. Gutted. Anyone got a plan B?

That's shit.

The WMBC is meeting at the carpark on Sunday at 9am.

Such a shame that they've closed down such a nice and very well maintained trail. Definitely my favorite trail around Sydney !
Hopefully the MTBers can unite once again and overturn the landowners decision, they are probably mis-informed and not aware of the impact it will bring to the local businesses.