Freedom Dirt Jumps: Urgent Action Needed

Per the Manly Daily article yesterday:

The actual situation on the ground as of yesterday afternoon:

Isn't the fencing off in line with their stated plans from the article?

“Early next week we will be putting heavy plastic meshing (around the site) as the minimum that needs to be done, as we have been directed by our insurer,” he said. “We are not proposing to level the site, because we would require certain (government) permits.”

where did the "it is thought that demolition is imminent" come from?

Let's not go off half-cocked (like our outrage at the paving of the golf-course single track), by all means let's voice our support for the facility but not get too outraged at the bulldozers coming in, as far as I can see they just want to cover their arses from insurance liability and by putting up fences they mitigate that particular risk

Dear Madam Mayor, Mr Deputy Mayor and Councillors,

I am very disappointed to hear that the metal fences and orange plastic construction mesh have already gone up at the Freedom Dirt Jump site, despite Manly Daily's article today indicating this would not occur until next week.

It seems the usual knee-jerk reaction has come from the usual type of short-sighted and unimaginative bureaucrats. I had hoped that consultation with stakeholders would have avoided this unnecessarily confrontationist approach.

There are ample examples in other municipalities in NSW and other States of Dirt Jump sites where the risk has been assessed and successfully managed. These sites cater for a range of rider abilities from beginner to expert. In addition, concrete skate parks within Manly Council's area share most of the same features as Dirt Jump sites, yet they are apparently OK from a risk perspective while Freedom is not. I don't understand why Manly Council has ignored this obvious evidence and risk experience. The risk is not uninsurable and is entirely manageable.

While Council's work at The Grove is to be commended, unfortunately Council's risk consultants have disregarded input from the appropriate Subject Matter Experts - the riders themselves - and the way The Grove jumps have been finished as a result actually worsens rider risk instead of mitigating it – the exact opposite of the intended outcome. With the benefit of hindsight, the decision not to adequately cater for more experienced riders was a second mistake. This combination of poor judgement has led to the Freedom jumps springing up.

Dirt Jump riders, while much more adventurous than I, are not idiots and value their own skins. Those that don't, don't stay long in the sport. Many of the Freedom riders are in their late twenties and thirties, well past the "risk assessment impaired" phase of young male adulthood you seem to have pigeonholed them in. What at first glance look like dangerous steep ramps are in reality intuitively designed safety features once the physics are understood, although the riders may not be able to articulate this well to non-riders.

Viewing this track closure in the wake of the Ombudsman's comments on the Norman Monshall affair, one might be excused for speculating whether an anti-cyclist bias has become entrenched among Council staff. If Council persists with its current short-sighted approach at Freedom, tracks will simply spring up elsewhere within the municipality to satisfy demand.

This site is ideal, previously being mostly rubble-strewn weed-infested waste land with no conservation value. Dirt Jump is another excellent unstructured recreation activity that helps Council meet its goals for community health and fitness and, like skate parks, helps divert youth from antisocial activity such as graffiti vandalism and substance abuse, and provides an avenue for mentoring and role modelling from older riders.

I trust that the elected members and the staff are professional enough to put preconceptions aside and work with the Freedom Dirt Jump group to go through the issues and provide a mutually beneficial outcome. I would suggest a great way to begin would be to start asking "How can we... " questions when faced with issues such as balancing risk and stakeholder interests. Utilising the expertise and networks of stakeholders also helps find answers. I find these are very powerful ways of finding solutions to seemingly intractable problems. Henry Wong might like to try them.

Yours faithfully,

Name provided
Certified Practising Accountant
Business Intelligence Systems Engineer
Suburb and contact number provided

Wollondilly Shire Council also run a dirt jump park, next to a skate park at Tahmoor.

Maybe,but it didnt need stabilizing there, plenty of other areas that need armouring(not paving)

It was "The straw that broke the camels back".

Back to topic,send emails people, we need numbers.

Looks like the planned bulldozing has been put on hold pending stakeholders and Council discussions.

http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/...

For local dirt jump riders to just put there hobby on hold indefinitely until this may or may not get sorted out, and may or may not end up like the Grove (A world class dirt jump facility built for free, turned into a $50,000+ bmx track that professionals dont want.

Learn from your past mistakes councils, fix any safety issues at Freedom (signage dirt fill etc) educate your insurer how other councils have legal proper dirt jump facilities.

The freedom dirt jumps are in a great position, big natural trees for shade(like the grove used to have before council bulldozed most of them) riding distance from home for locals. All thats needed is a simple land swap between councils, cheaper and faster.

Maybe a simple log bridge could be built from the street behind to alleviate any parking issues.