Some good news... remember SCA Management Regulation review (discussed here)?

I was at first very disappointed to see that last Friday the legislation on SCA access was gazetted and appears to have no change on MTB access (the gazette is here - see page 374 onwards).

Then today, a rather promising press release from the Minister for water (see attached PDF).

Basically it looks like the SCA will be performing a full community consultation on MTB access. Stay tuned for that.

Just spoke to a ranger at Manly Dam and there's some good news...

Seems like they are in the process of hiring a replacement for Nicole and this replacement will hopefully be starting within a month or so. The rangers definitely want to continue to work with riders on trail maintenance and appreciate all of the interest. With another person on board this should mean that can happen once more.

So give the newbie a chance to settle in and start arrangements. Not sure of course, but maybe this means within a couple of months the maintenance days will return?

In the mean time a bit of common sense is still required when thinking of riding around there. The track is still officially closed and would think it'll be at least another week before it dries out, even longer if the weather stays bad.

On Tuesday (Jun 2) I attended a round table discussion organised by Warringah Council.

The council are preparing a long term recreational policy and invited people from a broad spectrum of the community to several meetings such as this. They will also be meeting with other government groups such as NPWS, although I'm not sure if we will have any visibility of what happens at those meetings.

I think we were very fortunate to be invited to this discussion and that overall it was productive and had some good outcomes.

For unknown technical reasons I didn't get this email from the rangers until today, the news below was sent to us on Friday from local NPWS rangers. Apologies for the delay.

What follows is the update quoted in full.

I have been in contact with the Garigal NP rangers regarding stakes and logs and other entry prevention methods at Cascades. This was brought up in the none too tactful Cascades - NPWS Stupid, Dangerous and Ugly post.

Their explanation is below...

This afternoon Justin and I met with a two representatives of NPWS (Ranger Kim McClymont and Area Manager Chris Grudnoff) at their office in Forestville.

I am very pleased to report this was seen by all parties as a very productive encounter, with everyone keen to hear others point of view and coming away with some constructive actions that will hopefully help all involved, and of course the mountain bike community as a whole.

The short version: Things have come to a head at Oxford Falls (Garigal National Park) as a result of large rider numbers, illegal trail use and erosion becoming too much of an issue in the NPWS organisation. If riders can please show restraint and respect the 'no go' areas recently signposted here then future legal trail building may well be approved.