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Information from council RE: Pump Track @ Golden Jubilee
I just received the following letter from council:
Seems something is happening including a smaller single track loop??? see image attached.
Dear Sir / Madam
I thank you for having commented on Council’s proposal for a mountain bike facility at Golden Jubilee Oval.
I also appreciate your patience in waiting for something to happen. After speaking with staff, I advise the following:
Background
This project relates to the unstructured recreation in bushland strategy, exhibited to the public for six weeks August/September 2010 and adopted at Ordinary Council Meeting on 9 November 2010. Funds were reallocated within the Environmental levy in the August budget review 2010Environmental improvements
The peninsular beyond the Golden Jubilee Playing Fields, previously tip land, requires remediation. Currently broken glass and house hold rubbish is exposed and weedy vegetation has enveloped the site.
This area is now being capped with sandstone, an area of approximately 8000sqm where the mountain bike facility is proposed. The area is delineated by the:
Natural rock shelf to the Northern boundary.
The lower existing bench on the Western boundary and
The fire trail and existing exposed rocks to the East.The sandstone capping, sourced from local excavation projects and certified as clean and uncontaminated, depends on availability so timing may be delayed or sporadic. Distribution of the capping consists of spreading the material to a depth of 50cm using a bladed excavator. The area will be planted with native vegetation, organised through council’s canopy replenishment program. A community-planting day will be organised at the end of construction of the mountain bike facility.
Studies
Local traffic and environmental impact studies have been sought externally and are now completed. They are available on council’s website: http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/www/html/4124-mountain... .The recommendations from these studies shaped the direction of environmental improvement in this project.Mountain bike facility
Council sought quotations for detail design and construction of a mountain bike facility at Golden Jubilee, including a single track, pump track and skills zone covering the same footprint as the capping. Council is currently finalising details with the preferred contractor.To indicate the area which is being considered please see the attached map.
Additional works
We will be resurfacing the access road from Golden Jubilee to the fire trail network to accommodate a category 1 fire tanker. This will be undertaken post construction of the bike facility.
Directional and behavioural signs will be installed before the opening.Protection of good bush is through installation of gates and engagement of bush regenerators. This will occur after construction as part of routine maintenance
Thank you for your interest in this project.
Yours sincerely
Cr Ian Cross
Mayor
Ku-ring-gai Council
Locked Bag 1056
Pymble NSW 2073Ph: 02-9424 0709
Fax: 02-9424 0202
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It seems at this point in time stage 2 the extended x country loop is on hold.
But the following information from the traffic study is interesting:
Interesting stats.
I'm wondering with those stats if the person counting is counting the same people over again. I don't remember even Manly dam being that busy.
That would be because you are riding in a circle as the other 40-80 people are, and you are not standing in 1 spot with a counting device
That sounds like a significant (>20%) increase over the 500/day peak use estimated in the Warringah Council Gondwana report
Feels about right to me.
I am not a common user of the Dam, but the times I have been up there (mainly Sat afternoon's) I would pass maybe 10 or 11 people on my lap, so wouldnt be to surprised about the high usage.
That is a lot of people riding the dam in one day.
After reading the letter I received from council I was left a little confused as to the status of the single track; the letter mentioned a single track and I thought it had been cancelled. I wrote to council again asking to clarify their position on the single track. This is their reply;
Hi Alberto
Thankyou for the correspondence. The single track will consist of approximately 2k track on the western face of the peninsular- within the footprint marked on the map.
Regards
Mary-Lou Lewis
Environmental Levy
Natural Areas Program Leader
Ku-ring-gai Council
94240961
0425233347
So looks like we will get a single track, albeit one we will have to do 8+ laps on to start getting a good workout. What do you all feel about it? Should we write to council telling them that a 2km loop single track wont work - erosion, crowding, etc? The information available is fairly scarce so we dont really know what they are proposing.
Before I go and write to council telling them how ridiculous their proposal is I wanted to know what you all think.
Alberto
I wouldn't be doing anything to discourage this from starting.
My view is we let them build it, hopefully with our help. Once it's in and they see evidence of pent-up demand from over-use, then we explain the causes for the damage and ask for expansion of the lap length to reduce the intensity of use (riders per hour passing any single point).
take what you can get & then work from there!
It could also make a good kids loops. I don't think my little fella (as compared to my old fella) will be up for a lap of the dam but something like this would be perfect
I will cease and desist then on the "negative" observations with regards to length of track, erosion etc. . . .
Should we offer the council our help then [as a group]? Even if they don't accept it it may be something worthwhile doing?
Do we have a "leader" that could speak for us? Rob perhaps?
Hey... erm... there's no leader here
I would suggest someone like Campbell from HSMBA would be a good person to perhaps deliver a consensus from a group of riders?
Looks like they're warming up a little...
Just got this response to an email I sent them earlier:
Hi [hawkeye]
Thanks for the email below and link to Do lectures. I found this site very interesting and am contemplating attending.
Regards
Mary-Lou Lewis
Environmental Levy
Natural Areas Program Leader
Ku-ring-gai Council
[snipped]
Ku-ring-gai to Global: Sustainability for a better tomorrow
________________________________________
From:
Sent: Wednesday, 4 May 2011 4:07 PM
To: Sigrid Banzer
Subject: RE: Mountain bike facility
Thank you for the update Sigrid.
You and the Mayor may find the following presentation regarding the impact of mountain biking in Wales to be interesting.
While there are some key differences to the situation in Ku Ring Gai, the observations regarding impact on the local community through tourism benefits, creative approaches to funding the works, and lifestyle changes among the local youth are worth noting. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the matter.
http://www.dolectures.co.uk/lectures/start-with-...
Warm regards,
There is also a shortish section running from the firetrail entry at McRae up towards the cricket field on Bobbin Head Rd. Apparently that's all legal sngle track built as a result of TORC and the council working together. 2k is a nice addition up at Jubillee. We know there is an awesome work out in riding some of those fire trails. The project was basically downscaled by angry NIMBIES.
Had a quick look at the site today lots of trucks dumping clean fill so something is happening
I think encouragement of Ku-ring-gai Council is the way to go. Their Sports staff really want to get the MTB facility going. Ill-informed locals combined with cost pressures have limited the plan to close to Golden Jubilee and 2km of single track. So, once the curtailed plan is up and running, and we can show how popular it is (and that it does not lead to drug taking, drinking, graffitti, general mayhem, storm, pestilence, etc) - then we have a great case for expansion.
if the sniggle is being built in the indicated area, it will be a bit like Stromlo was at first - that area has pretty much no vegetation and looks like it is being further capped with clean fill (and hopefully some vegetation). Need to squirt half a bottle of water on your favourite tree each time you go there to encourage growth
Yeah, it's a very exposed location. I'll be pouring some water onto plants too. Hopefully some quick growing seedlings go in with some mulch. There sure is no shortage of sun on that hill side. Can't wait.
Top stuff!!!!
Can you imagine a Sydney council saying "We reviewed your plans with our local residents that had excess time on their hands (re 70+). Please add more trail and resubmit"
This shot indicates we might see a few RC Planes flying overhead. Zoom in and check out near the playing field.
http://www.nearmap.com/[email protected],151.137930...
I think it will be an awesome, and it will help cure some of the myths with the unbelievers... particularly as (apparently), World Trail will be doing the work.
From KMC:
"In late 2010 you made a written submission in relation to the Golden Jubilee Field draft Landscape Masterplan.
Following an analysis of all of the submissions some amendments have been made to the draft masterplan.
These amendments are explained in the attached letter which has been sent to over 700 households in Wahroonga.
The letter also details where on Council's website the latest draft masterplan may be viewed.
You are invited to attend a community information session in relation to the draft landscape masterplan which will be held on
Thursday 26 May 2011, at 6.30pm at the Ku-ring-gai Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, Golden Jubilee Field, Esk Street, Wahroonga."
The letter focuses on other sporting facility decisions at GJF, but mentions that "staff will also be present to answer questions on the progress of the mountain bike facility at the rear of GJF". It also says that council staff will make any "necessary amendments" to the draft masterplan following the meeting and before it is submitted to council.
Might be worth having a few mtbers there in case the loonies get stuck into the council staff about the mtb facility.