Save the Aerodrome jumps

I'm doubting they can be saved. The area was passed for development back in the 90's and every council has supported it since. It is also noted in the BMCC Adopted BMX DJ Strategy 2002 that the area is interim and this site may need to be replaced in future because this land is Operational. I think they are lucky that the council is giving them land to build on just a hundred or so Metres down the road. The smarter option would be to lobby the council to help build an awesome Dirt Jump site.

Yes they are being moved to a site further out and far less suitable.
Kncking down a dirt jump area just to build a new one at a different spot that is less convenient to the kids who ride there makes no sense (except as a cash grab for council)

The NIMBYs you speak of are parents of past and current site users or former riders them self

Actually I'm saying they are lucky because they won't have to go through 2 years of battles just to get another site approved.

With council endorsing the new site I believe it would be strategically better to push for funding to use building equipment and create a sustainable site. Have alot more jumps built quicker and better. Have a real dirt jump site built with pump track and more.

I believe if they take on council to prevent the bulldozing and building of homes they will loose and have a real set back with minimal council support to build the new site.

I do see your point, it's just in my eyes I see them fighting the wrong fight.

A site 100 metres down the road is far better than being told there is 4 other legal sites located at Wentworth Falls, Hazelbrook, Winmalee & Glenbrook. Go use them instead.

All the pre-work is already done.

The BMCC Adopted Dirt Jump Strategy is their Bible and it works to their favour.

Under The strategy they can push for a;
Permanent site.
Visibility from a publicly-used area to ensure a safe environment for riders.
Adequate car parking on site or nearby.
Toilet facilities on-site or within 5 minutes bicycle riding distance.
On-site water supply or an easily accessible nearby public water supply.
Adequate shade.
Garbage disposal facilities.
It is a requirement that council supply the fill and excavation is not allowed.

It will not become another Groove as under the strategy "Council will not design or build dirt jump sites. The site lessee, manager or the riders will be responsible for the design and development of the jump trails."

I understand the work they have put in and the time the site has existed but I see so much more potential.
I hope you can see the point I'm trying to make.

So is BMORC as a group going to help or is it just a knapsack thing?

If so I think a lot of people will look at there support of BMORC the next set of trails BMORC wants to formalise.

I think support.... but we need to get some facts together.

We have discussed with council already about issues with two other designated jump sites, we just haven't had the chance to act upon it. So its not like BMORC haven't been entirely involved with DJ.

Flynny, is the main guy working on this the guy from the video... do you have any contact information?

I might put a note up on youtube for contact....

...but if you can find one well and good too.

Just wanted to thank you guys for your support, interest and comments on the Blackheath jump track. It is great to see what an active forum you have got.

The central issue is the development of the airstrip along Hat Hill Rd, into 42 double lots for the purposes of housing. Locals are upset for a number of reasons: Blue Mountains City Council [BMCC] refusal to consult with the community, environmental impact , and the speculative nature of the development.

While I do live close to the proposed development [so you can call me a nimby] I didn't have much to do with the opposition and was relatively neutral on the matter.

The group who had the least amount of say in the whole issue were the kids who ride in the jump park. Thats why we wanted to make the video and let, council in particular, know that this was a really important place for kids to ride. The video was just giving them a voice, thats where I decided to help. Lets face it , if you are a 12 yr old you just want somewhere to ride with your mates, not spend your time lobbying council - this is where we would ask for the help of BMORC,

What we want is two things: -New BMCC counselors to commit to a Master plan of development of the sub-division, including consultation with riders.
If the development goes ahead, 3 of the 42 lots to be made into a permanent reserve [the existing site] for kids to continue riding building jumps and dogs to take their owners for walks.

Council have suggested an alternative site 1km down the road, but it is another interim site that is exposed, completely flat, with no facilities close by. The kids dont like it and there has been no funding put aside nor has council mad any attempt to talk with riders.

As a cross country rider I am terrified of nearly all of the jumps the kids do but would love to show anyone who was interested the track and the jumps tomorrow {sunday 15th] and combine this with a 1-2 hour single track /fire trail ride from the jump track. PM me or give me a ring on 0450476615 if you are keen.

Thanks for Joining up and posting Mike. I'm keen for a ride, I've sent you a PM

I met with Mike and Nigel today.

Even had a small jump on my xc bike. It really is a great spot to progress from beginner, unlike some other jump spots which take a fair bit of commitment to hit any thing.

Bmcc has a dirt jump strategy that covers the self build issues you mention. This has been an approved site since 2002
The alternative site is exposed to wind and sun and has a very sandy soil base, completely unsuitable. + it will only be another intrim site

There has never been any community consultation re this development plan

As for being used as a pawn... Several user groups are trying to work together, i can't see how that can posibily be a bad thing

My understanding of the BMCC web page in regards to the Hathill development was that full consultation was taken place back in 1991 but development could not proceed until the sewer line was extended. (which it now has). Each council since 1991 has approved the future development of Hathill Rd so the consultation held back in 1991 remains current. According to the BMCC web page, this is legal. My interpretation may be wrong, I do believe that a 21yo consultation is a bit far fetched. What is the expiry date of a consultation? Can you approach the commonwealth to question this? If a second(new) consultation was to take place, would Council vote differently?

Just to make my position clear I'm not supporting the council development nor am I against it. I've been accused of playing Devils Advocate before and I guess it's kind of the same here. I tend to look at all angles and see all perspective and then try to look at the big picture of how we can best support off road cyclists. I will put my thoughts and opinions forward, but will always support the groups decisions. I hope this makes sense.

Apart from the Petition, is there anything else that can be done?

As Waratah says it may be worthwhile discussing with the BMCS whether they have anything in the pipeline with this.

I agree its probably a major uphill battle in isolation but I also don't think the selloff is a good idea and it probably can be piggybacked on that issue. That would take some catchup and research on what is going on there. Have to see what tactics the other vested intrests have.

Also where are the jumps in reference to the proposed land sellfoff? Are they in a position that isn't central or critical to the planned design, if so there is a greater opportunity to have their position reassessed.

....and at the very least if there is no hope a new jump site should be a good one, agreed on by all parties, in a good location with dirt provided and with a permanent position.. no interim site. Being palmed off with something inferior is not a good option for anyone. A poorly sited one is bad for the jumpers but also its a bad solution because it won't be used and council will then have to deal with a few new ones popping up where they don't want them. Better for them to get it right in the first place.

A jump site is a cheap resource, there is $168K being spent on the new skate park in katoomba which is terrific, a jump site can be done for probably a 50th of that and still have money left over.

Just got this off nigel

Council meeting tomorrow night 7:30, Item 19: Tender for the Design and Construction of Infrastructure Services for Stage 1 Development of Hat Hill Road, Blackheath

Wow this council don’t mind taking a risk! Moving ahead without completing all the reports required is either very brave or very stupid!
They are doing everything they can to fast track this to try and stop us. However signing up a tenderer is by far not an end of it.
We have been informed that even this is not enough to stop a reversal of this decision and it will not stop us!

The alternate site is very crap. Even if you do import dirt with a decent clay base it is exposed to Sun and wind so they will dry out and crack very quickly. Kids will need to spend more time putting jumps m\back together than jumping. Not to mention the issues of jumping in a windy location

Back in 2007 when I was at school in Wentworth Falls there was a great resource in the dirt jumps of Pauline st. I housing development went in and within a week the jumps were gone. Gone. Twenty years of building was gone. At the time I can remember a lot of upset and outspoken people. Most people at the time understood that unapproved jumps and a lack of rider organization meant that there was little that could be done.
Personally I do not think BMORC would have been able to stop this happening, jumps approved or otherwise and yes it's very sad and upsetting for those involved but they have at least offered you an alternative.

Perhaps you would have more luck asking for provisions such as suitable jump building substrate and shelter at the revised location?

Hey Username2. The Pauline st Jumps were an approved intrim site too. Probably the best on in the mountains. The fact they keep destroying the good one with no conciliation or communication says a lot.

Yeah Moggio all the councilors suport the development but you know how the fold like wet paper at residential back lashes. Remember they were all in support of formalising old bathurst rd until a last minute hooo ha by residents. Hopefully we can do the reverse that this time around

Moggio

TrailCare is developing a DJ Guideline document for councils and insurance companies which covers site selection.

This will be public once it has gone through industry and IMBA review/endorsement and also been reviewed by insurance companies.

We forwarded the draft document to Warringah Council yesterday to help them review sites for DJ.

Message me and see what we can send you to help out.

I had hoped the full mtb community would have gotten behind it. We all added our support to campaign to reopen bits of manly dam even though some of us seldom, or had never riden it.....

Just to be a wowser ... I understand the motivations to save the Dirt Jumps, but surely, the main focus should be the save the bushland environment and encourage council to seek more creative ways to raise funds, post their shite investment decisions.

This will merge your efforts with other interest groups like BMCS, other Residents concerned with amenities etc etc. Sure we like riding dirt jumps and its nice the kids are rad, but its that Bushland setting that is important isn't it ??

Hopefully Council have learnt from their GFC related investments that you can't get something for nothing. A fundamental business acumen is that you have to invest to enhance assets in order to raise value and or derive solid and dependable revenue streams. Given their Land Sale history, enhancing these land parcels will likely be a waste of capital.

Similarly the NZ experience highlights that enhancing natural resources like pine forest and building recreational opportunities can derive revenue with strong and robust grow potential from tourism.

Councillor Mays, given her imminent move to NZ stated that she was intimate with NZ ... well if they can derive income out of pine forest which she called "Weeds". Surely we can derive revenue and increased land values from Bushlands adjacent and attached to World Heritage listed National Parks.
http://bmorc.com/node/34834

Although I understand Councillor motivations and that they need funding for their other projects, I think residents should highlight alternative funding opportunities like the examples in Rotorua, Queenstown etc. Surely adventure, eco tourism is a better use and can lead to higher conservation rates then allowing expanded residential opportunities when you have Lithgow, Bathurst and Western Sydney pretty much round the corner.

So, I'd encourage those leading this campaign to think bigger and work with other interest groups that ultimately have the same goal, to save the natural bushland environment, even if its for different reasons.

Sorry to hear about the lack of support from the wider mtb community but it does seem the locals are getting a go with it.I will get to meetings and that stuff if I get a few days notice.I think the thing I would be pissed with apart from no notice is the money going to Springwood why dont they sell something in springwood only seems fare.

We appreciate your help, weighing in with your support. Same with the rest of the Blue Mountains crew. We owe you guys a debt of gratitude. There's so much happening though sometimes you get a little tired, as I'm sure you're familiar with, so apologies if we've dropped the ball.

So...

An example email that we could butcher to make our own would be helpful, as would a list of councillors', the general manager's and relevant parks and sports facilities manager's email addresses.

Us folks from further afield are not across the local issues and concerns influencing councillors' views like you are, so anything you can do to make it easier for us to hit their hot buttons with our correspondence will help us help you.

Don't want to rain on anyone's parade (or track), but petitions are ineffective. To decision-makers they look like one special interest group or revved-up individual going around and drumming up support.

Individually-crafted emails that talk to a common theme are many times more effective. I think the maths they work off is that for every letter received, there are about 20 people similarly revved-up and a lot of emails start to look like a grass-roots movement.

Compare that with a petition, which for every 20 people who sign, count as one person with a real concern on the issue. So doing the arithmetic, that makes emails 400 times more effective.

Don't shoot the messenger, this is the feedback I have received from both state and local council people who track such things. If you want to be effective, this is what needs to be done.

I've already signed the petition.

Understood but may be not when the councilors have said they are not afraid of angry emails.

http://youtu.be/STrL6kTrqYs

The guys decided the first step they want to take is the petition to demonstrate support. Next is their facebook group to keep people up to date with nws and organise meetings

http://www.facebook.com/groups/BACGD/48138453187...

If emails won't work, then petitions definitely won't.

Listening to the first couple of minutes tells me they are feeling a bit bruised by the whole Springwood thing, which indicates to me they are *talking* tough but are in fact feeling a bit of pain.

Some (not angry) emails may just be what they need.

My response would be to call their bluff... but give them an out that gets you what you want, which would include telling them how preserving the current jump site helps meet their mandate for providing facilities for unstructured recreation, is a win for the community, and how moving them will yield a similar result to The Grove in Manly Council's LGA - failure to meet the comunity's needs (dumbing down in thsi case) means the failure of the project.

But, as we did with the Manly Dam thing, keep it polite and not aggressive, and for heaven's sake leave the whole "you're coming up for re-election" thing unsaid. They know that, but will not respond well at all to something that feels like a threat. Don;t be a ratbag.

Keeping the moral high ground in your emails is so much more effective it's not funny: if a lot of reasonable people disagree with what they're doing, maybe what they're doing is not reasonable.