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Western Sydney Parklands - MTB update Feb 2014


Ray R's picture

By Ray R - Posted on 20 February 2014

Hi all - great news from Western Sydney Parklands. Josh French advises:

"As Yolanda advised you in August last year the Trust has allocated funding to construct a Mountain Bike Course at Cecil Hills in the Western Sydney Parklands.

At the end of last year we finalised the detailed design and tendered for the construction of supporting facilities including carparking (90 spaces), seating and signage. Construction of these supporting facilities and the track will commence next month and we are expecting works to be complete by July this year. Co-Ordinated Landscapes will be constructing the carparking and supporting facilities and Dirtz will be constructing the Mountain Bike Course.

We need to name the new facility. One idea we have is to call it 'Wylde' or 'Wylde Mountain'. The Wylde family occupied the land in the location of the proposed mountain bike facility. The family owned up to 3589 acres in the area from 1817 to 1892 and used it for agriculture. Wylde (although a different spelling) also gives notion to the facility itself."

This is great news for all of Sydney mtb riders, and comes on the back of work by many people since 2009. Western Sydney MTB Club has offered to hold a Grand Opening Event there. Stay tuned!

Ray Rice
XC VP WSMTB
[email protected]
www.wsmtb.com and Facebook

Update 26 Feb: See the sign spotted at the site!

Ray R's picture

BTW the location is in the hilly area west of the M7, south of Elizabeth Drive, and east of the Shooting Centre. The trail head will be on the eastern side of the entrance road down to the Shooting Centre from Elizabeth Drive.

This area is revegetated farm land (since befor year 2000) and has a good range of landforms. It links well with the other areas of the WSP and there are possibilities of future trail expansion.

mike95's picture

great news!

Jubas's picture

Fantastic news! Looking forward to hearing about progress!

mrptl's picture

Great news. Btw this is not far from the 2000 Olympics trail (Fairfield City Farm).

crank's picture

Great news. Has WSMTB had input into the design of the trail itself?

Hop fiend's picture

Another place to ride when we go to visit the (in)outlaws in SW Sydney!!

Ray R's picture

Yes - WSMTB has had input into the design. Right from early discussions with WSP (mid 2009 onwards) to walking/riding/exploring the area with Brett Barnes back in Dec 2012 - then review recently.

Ray R's picture

See the photo above of the sign on the fence at the site near the Shooting Centre.

Progress!

ChopStiR's picture

Can't wait!

Dicko's picture

How good is this for MTB'g !

With the
1. recent approval of the Bantry Bay network to
2. link with the existing Manly Dam, St Ives, and Terry hills fire trails
3. Yellomundee
4. Mt Annan
5. Menai to reopen
6. Royal National Park
7. OMV & H20
8. new trail network at Picton

and now this Western Sydney Parklands development, MTB'g in the greater Sydney basin looks promising.

Ray R's picture

Update 28 Feb from Josh French at Western Sydney Parklands (WSP):

"Hi everyone,

Thanks for your enthusiastic feedback and support for the use of the name Wylde. We are going with 'Wylde Mountain Bike Trail'.

Works commence on site next month which is very exciting.

The Trust will update you during construction to confirm an opening date.

Josh"

zzramone's picture

A very good job done by all and exciting times a head. Live near by and willing to give a hand.PS dying for a ride wish this rain would stop

Ray R's picture

I was down at Wylde on Friday 28 March to look at the progress. The earth works for the car park are well underway (and a bit under water with all the rain!). We inspected the track layout with Brett Barnes of Dirtz - and they are well underway as well in constructing features. Again it was all very damp and muddy.

Note that the area is a construction zone with heavy machinery in operation during the day, and locked at other times. So no preview rides as yet please.

Ray Rice
XC VP WSMTB

Muninjitsu's picture

Excellent can't wait until its open.

Ray R's picture

Things are taking shape at Wylde MTB at Cecil Park. The Dirtz crew are well into the first loop (5km) and parts of the second loop (another 4km) are taking shape. A further loop of 3km is marked out.

The track promises some fantastic flow. The descent down through what we are calling "Gum Gully" is a hoot. The final 1km down to the car park will leave everyone with a smile on their face at the finish.

Note that the area is a construction zone with heavy machinery in operation during the day, and locked at other times. So no preview rides as yet please.

Blue's picture

Hi, just wondering if anyone has a rough idea when this will open. I have the month of July off work and have done precious little riding in recent years due to having two little ones, so would love to spend some of my free time while the kids are at day care exploring what will be the closest trails to home.

I'm guessing July might be to early to hope for at this stage.

Kyle's picture

I was there on Wednesday and the guy working said about 3 weeks give or take. They were just starting to lay concrete for the entrance/carpark.

ChopStiR's picture

3 weeks may be nearing completion on construction. But the paper work, signoffs, etc can take longer before opening, plus it needs an official or soft opening, and that can be indefinite.

My optimist side is getting excited, but my realist side playing it by ear and not getting any hopes up.

Blue's picture

Thanks, OMV it is for now.

zzramone's picture

Rode the 12km trail this morning with the dirtz crew.Very enjoyable some interesting sections and great burms that you can hit flat out,still soft in certain area but will be ready for the opening.

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