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Environmental damage to close part of Glenrock


maverick's picture

By maverick - Posted on 03 May 2013

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

What are the tracks around Leggy Point that will be closed?
And where is Elvis Rock?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-03/environmen...

[Mod. Moved to Newcastle & Hunter]

Lenny_GTA's picture

Basically everything in glenrock that isn't on the official trail map will be closed.

Its all focused south of the lagoon. So Surfers Walk, Elvis Rock, Dudley area, etc will be officially closed. This is basically trail closures to reflect the Plan of Management.

hawkeye's picture

This isn't really news... it has been part of the overall plan for Glenrock from the start.

The price of new sustainable trails is always going to be closing old unsustainable ones if the issues can't be addressed. This is something that advocates use as a bargaining tool to negotiate the official recognition of formal trails in an area.

And why would you not want to close tracks and trails that are damaging to the environment? Speaking for myself, I don't want to be responsible for contributing to damaging the environment, when I can have a sustainable alternative.

Now that a decent network of sustainable trails has been achieved in Glenrock, it is now time to pay the dues and turn attention to closing and rehabilitating trail corridors passing through sensitive areas.

As to your questions about exactly which trails are going to be closed, I'm sure RobbieO or sammy will be on top of the detail...

Edit: beaten to it! Eye-wink

Lenny_GTA's picture

I was on the consultative committee and there was one loop through the south that was sustainable and would have closed off the network nicely, but looking at the big picture, it is not a huge loss. I'll probably get shot down for saying that, but I think we have come out pretty well and the closures are minor (other than the loss of access to my favourite place in newcastle, Elvis Rock).

The easiest way to tell of specific trails to be closed is to look at our official trail map, if the trail isn't on the map, it will be closed by NPWS. This was always on the cards, the press release is just part of the education program for riders prior to and during closures.

maverick's picture

Ok, how will the increased use of the designated trails and increase in trail damage be managed?

I take it the plan is if half the park is closed to bikes then they can manage the other half better?

If I see bushwalkers with roaming dogs north of the lagoon on the designated cycling trails can I swerve at them now they have the southern area to use? lol

Lenny_GTA's picture

No, the trails in the north are multiuser trails.

In future versions of the POM, if we can show the north has worked, then we have a case to increase access to the south. Really, its in our hands now to show that mtb's and Glenrock can coexist. We know they can, we just need to prove it to the NPWS.

Hop fiend's picture

Saying from the start of this year an education process would begin,with 6 months before any fines would be issued!-I am sure there will be riders who will flaunt these park rules-just as people with dogs & Moto's regulary do!

pharmaboy's picture

Not a big fan of "the environmental damage" part.

Was always a problem with surfers nearly been bowled over by high speed runs down the hill, and the feeling of entitlement held by the burwood millionaires to "their" private paradise. This belief I base on the continued installation of traps and blocks for bikes done by amateurs - glass, sticks with nails in them buried in a creek crossing, various branches dragged across trails etc.

The article associates mountain biking with environmental damage which is a bit of a shame

c3024446's picture

So at all the trail entries down Scout Camp rd, top of bus stop, the short DH trails parallel to Easy way out etc, will there be big signs saying "don't go in here, fines apply" or will it just be education?

TBH, Bus Stop, Elvis Rock huge losses. Or maybe I am annoyed that everything is not available anymore. Anyway GTA, the work you have done is great, except that the rocks at the top of BJs seem to be getting higher Shocked

Hop fiend's picture

I agree,maybe Tiffany could have chosen her words better!-as for the other part of your comment...well it would be sad if that was the case & Lenny is there a real strong chance that we will get some acsess to the southside??

maverick's picture

Who is responsible for the Great North Walk trails? NPWS?

Lenny_GTA's picture

Within Glenrock, the GNW goes on the Yeulabah walking trail. That is managed by NPWS.

Outside of Glenrock though, I'm not sure. We were actually having that discussion riding the GNW from Glenrock to Hillsborough yesterday. I think much of it is on crown lands and managed by the Department of Trade and Investment (crown lands). Other parts of the trail fall into State Forest.

So at all the trail entries down Scout Camp rd, top of bus stop, the short DH trails parallel to Easy way out etc, will there be big signs saying "don't go in here, fines apply" or will it just be education?

TBH, Bus Stop, Elvis Rock huge losses. Or maybe I am annoyed that everything is not available anymore. Anyway GTA, the work you have done is great, except that the rocks at the top of BJs seem to be getting higher

A lot of trails that aren't intended for walking (surfers walk) will be physically closed with machinery. At least that was the plan NPWS had. So a lot of stuff will be physically ripped up and allowed to rehabilitate. In the past when this has occurred, orange fencing has gone up with signs. There will be a period of education before fines kick in though. The rule in glenrock though, is if there is no sign indicating it is a cycling trail, we aren't supposed to be on it.

Are you talking about the step up into BJ's entrance? So its not just me that has found that a bit more challenging lately?

c3024446's picture

Yeah, the Entrance to BJs ( with the b line ramp on the left) seems to be getting harder, as well as the new rocks that were put along the first dh section. The dirt around them must be washing away, everytime i go down them the drops feel higher

fwoark's picture

With the exception of two small areas, the gnw from the Fernleigh to Warners Bay is now on Lake Mac Council land. Preliminary design work for an upgrade should commence next financial year. Any actual work on the trail could be anywhere from a few months, to a decade away.

Lenny_GTA's picture

The barriers on the bridges need to be wider to account for my bars........and uncoordination.

fwoark's picture

The barriers need to be removed entirely.

shannon23455's picture

How will access to grass tree be affected? Only from the fernleigh track?

Empy's picture

From Fernleigh track, Big Dipper and management trails.

shannon23455's picture

Does management trails include the creek crossing then turn right? Is the single trail that runs parallel to the fire trail going to be open?

Lenny_GTA's picture

Yes, after crossing the main creek crossing you could turn right and go up the management trail. The single trail on the sothern side of this management trail is unfortunately slated for closure (its one of my favorite trails), but a new one is to be opened on the northern side.

Incidentally, you can turn left on the management trail after the creek. Once you get to the second creek crossing however, under the POM maps you will have to turn right and go up the steep management trail that brings you to the Kahibah carpark.

richo's picture

You may as well go smash de-luge while your there it would be rude not too.

c3024446's picture

The trailing running to the south of the fireroad is a good little trail (it seems easier than going up the fireroad?!), and it is in the section where cycling is permitted based on the POM map, why can't it be fixed up a bit instead of building a new trail? It is a bit eroded in spots, but fixing it up would be less damage than creating a whole new trail (i think?)

Also, instead of fixing up the trail from Snakes and Ladders down to the picnic table, can we have one of the old DH tracks down to the Yuelarbah management trail fixed up?

This makes a good little run of SNL - Seismick - pump action - turn left and go up to Gun club rd - then trail down to Yuelarbah - across the creek - that trail parallel to the fire road - grass tree - onto fernleigh track.

Hop fiend's picture

...In a perfect world!-as that is a nice loop!

shannon23455's picture

Indeed that would be a great loop.

Lenny_GTA's picture
The trailing running to the south of the fireroad is a good little trail (it seems easier than going up the fireroad?!), and it is in the section where cycling is permitted based on the POM map, why can't it be fixed up a bit instead of building a new trail? It is a bit eroded in spots, but fixing it up would be less damage than creating a whole new trail (i think?)

Couldn't agree more. I have argued the case, and will continue to argue the case, for this trail until it closes. In both directions it is one of my all time favourite glenrock sections. If I understand correctly, the issue the NPWS have here with this one is that they (and I don't believe it) have an issue with riders riding the trail down to the picnic table to the south and they want to separate the uses.

This trail has been "officially closed" before. Must have been around 2005, and it opened up again not long after.

Also, instead of fixing up the trail from Snakes and Ladders down to the picnic table, can we have one of the old DH tracks down to the Yuelarbah management trail fixed up?

This makes a good little run of SNL - Seismick - pump action - turn left and go up to Gun club rd - then trail down to Yuelarbah - across the creek - that trail parallel to the fire road - grass tree - onto fernleigh track.

There was talk at the the forum of the NPWS having a look at the upper section of the "Garden Path" Trail. This is the DH trail will all the berns at the top. Its the first one you come across along Gun Club Road.

The reopening of the run down the headland is for two reasons. To give the alternate way off the ridge, but to also allow walkers a direct route to the beach from Gun Club. The management trails at that end aren't really suited to riding or walking.

c3024446's picture

Great stuff Lenny.

With my loop I like to ride down Garden Path, but it is certainly challenging after the berm section (very loose and steep, plenty of B-lines and erosion and only seems to be getting worse). The bottom half may be too steep to fix sustainably. Maybe another option is to ride the first half of Garden path and then go onto the easy way out fire road down to the Yuelarbah trail.

I guess alot of people currently ride Easy way out off GCR the wrong way to get down to the Yuelarbah, this would be a way to stop that.

shannon23455's picture

Is the garden path the track straight across from six shooter?

c3024446's picture

It's the one that is just to the east of the easy way out fire road.
This is it:

http://app.strava.com/segments/2380247

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