Manly Daily Article


Brian's picture

By Brian - Posted on 09 October 2010

Rob's picture

The council meeting minutes say the document will appear here:

http://www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/Current_Document...

Which is a broken link. However, I found current exhibitions listed here:

http://www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/council/document...

Don't see it in the list as yet though.

Brian's picture
Rob's picture

Ah, from the PoM the area looks to be about half the side of Manly Dam. Measuring round the perimeter very roughly (the most likely route for a track to cause least controversy) seems that a 4-ish km circuit could be made. With a bit of doubling back or shared use with what is already there (see map below) you could no doubt get a bit more.

This sounds very short, but at least Pittwater council have recognised the need and are looking into providing an off road facility. On it's own, such a track could make a nice beginner's loop. Linked to other trails could become a welcome part of a wider network.

Nice thinking then!

Here's a couple of maps of the area of study and showing existing and proposed walking tracks:

Ingleside Chase Reserve

Ingleside Chase Reserve - Management Zones and Actions

muvro's picture

Ah, my back yard... lol

The area is pretty hilly, so it will certainly make a great little circuit and quite challenging if the right people are approached and involved with it's construction.

Man, I really hope they do something here. Will be great for arvo rides. Smiling

You'll also find there are a few walking trails through there already

There is also a very large and beautiful waterfall in there that you could access quite easily 15 odd years ago. But is now extremely over grown. Also a smaller billabong that I used to go swimming in, but has also become extremely over grown.

There also used to be a motorbike track with jumps and berms etc, but I've searched for it recently and can't find it for quids...

How's the best way to get involved and show support for it Rob?

Rob's picture

@murvo. as always - just write in an official submission to the plan and tell 'em what you want! Smiling

muvro's picture

Is there a link to who/where we can write to Rob?

Rob's picture

Allegedly there was a public meeting held on Wed 20th to discuss this plan. First I heard was yesterday which was a bit late!

Don't suppose any locals heard about this or got to attend?

At least it's now listed on the official open for comments page and there's a submission form. Will put this up in the news section next week, don't want to distract people from the last few days of the NPWS paper thingo Eye-wink

http://www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/council/document...

MarkkyMarkk's picture

Following up on this matter, the final Plan of Management for Ingleside Chase Reserve was adopted by Council - with the following amendments:

Action 22:

"Investigate the feasibility of a recognised mountain bike track in the reserve, which would involve comprehensive and rigorous environmental impact assessment and having no environmental impact. If deemed appropriate, the design and maintenance of such a track would involve community participation, establishment of a working committee and liaison with interest groups. Any track would be designed in line with maximising environmental viability, safety of cyclists and pedestrians and built to associated standards."

Recreation - Section 4.9.3

Clarify by adding "Both mountain biking and dog walking are currently prohibited activities in the reserve. Council will consider allowing mountain biking subject to approval of a plan for a sustainable bike path and having no environmental impact."

So basically, despite the consultant's report outlining Mountain Biking as a high priority issue within the reserve, the Councillors have inserted the "no environmental impact" clause into the Pom to effecftively stymie any MTB trails being built here.

hawkeye's picture

Seems to me to be a loose wording of the kind you'd expect from those who haven't thought through how others might choose to use them. The fact that "sustainable bike path" is in there is a positive.

Rob's picture

Sorry, but this wording is basically useless to mountain bike riders as any activity has an impact. Walking. Riding. Geeze, even farting!

The thing land managers should be doing is making sure impacts are properly managed and kept beneath the sustainable managed limit. See Sustainable Mountain Biking in NSW - Management Strategies for NPWS Discussion.

MarkkyMarkk's picture

Furthermore, the Pom specifies that the existing informal walking tracks should be upgraded, but there's no mention of performing a

comprehensive & rigorous environmental impact assessment

to allow the works to proceed.
So it seems apprent that walking tracks are ok, whetever the impact, but they want to make it as difficult as possible to allow mountain biking.
Its disappointing that the Councillor's prejudices have dictated these decisions.
A quote from Cr Patricia Giles:

I certainly don't want mountain biking to have any environmental impact. We have fought hard and spent a lot of money acquiring land for the reserve and if we don't protect it, no body will

Rob - Would it be ok if i forwarded a copy of the Sustainable Mountain Biking in NSW to some of the Pittwater Councillor's ?
It might be too late for this reserve, but it might help inform some future decisions.

Rob's picture

@MarkkyMarkk... forward away, that's what these documents are for.

nrthrnben's picture

Is anyone taking the lead with this?

http://www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/council/media/ne...

There are some great informal trails in here that need to be legalized.

And great potential for flowy trails

does anyone know the latest?

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