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Harrington Park trail


Steele1968's picture

By Steele1968 - Posted on 09 February 2013

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

Anyone know who maintains the trail in the *edit: to remove location details* - I came across it a few weeks ago and really enjoy riding it. It is well maintained and I noticed a lot of work since the heavy rains recently (berms have been reprofiled, creek crossings have been corded). If I can find out who is looking after it I wouldn't mind giving a hand at times. Thanks Andrew.

mrptl's picture

Where about is that?

*edit: to remove location details*

Steele1968's picture

Yep - that's the one. *edit: to remove location details*
Thanks Andrew.

Jamhead's picture

Hi guys,
Great to here positive comments on the track!
Wow it doesn't take long to hit the net, I guess i'll be meeting a few of you guys sooner or later!
As this land is private please respect local residents by not parking outside houses or on grass verges etc, You may be able to park at the country club if you ask the girls at reception nicely. Have a beer & a feed while your there, the steaks are sweet!!! We have been given the ok to ride on this land as local residents but no formal correspondence has been entered into with management about actually having mtb tracks in the nature corridor.

Leaving rubbish in this area is a sure way to have it shut down, please take your rubbish with you (including your old tubes!!!)!!!

Cheers, Jamo.

Scottboy's picture

How long b4 this ges built out by residential area ? I heard 10yrs ago this was going to happen ie the residential area was getting built . So is it ok for a group ride or keep low key atm ?

G Croz's picture

Hi all,
As far as we can find out the area has been designated as community woodlands. There will be housing around the area in the future. As Jamo has said if we respect the area we'll all be able to enjoy the trail.
It's great you enjoy our track, catch you there some day.

Cheers,
G

ChopStiR's picture

Im keen to drop by soon, only live just up the Northern

Scottboy's picture

I was coming home from the Mont today & was feeling tired was going to stop for a break somewhere ,*edit: to remove location details* I was originally going to have ...lol . The track is sweet , shaded , little drop ins & gap jumps smooth as & will be back there again soon as it is only 40 mins from my house then do Mt Annan on the way home .

Scottboy's picture

was out there with a mate did 2 laps , stopped & spoke to the guy that has done most of the work there & told him to organise a maintenance day by posting on here & hopefully we will get a good response out of it , we just need to make a few more berms , fill in a gully or 2 & take out jumps just b4 a few corners nothing too major it just helps keep the track in good condition

crank's picture

How did he react to being told how to build his track?

Scottboy's picture

as the parts that were modified were done by teenage bmx riders & they have a continuation track that leads of his for about 1 km long that joins back on next time i'm there I will scout the area more instead of hooning around enjoying the trails , if the rain stopped this arvo he would have been out there enjoying it because it is nice & slippery and fun he says . I was heading there today myself to do some work but got called into work till late so I never got there .

craked's picture

might go and check this track out tomorrow . As I ride past every day on my way home from work!

ChopStiR's picture

Was thinking of doing the same thing in the morning. Where is the best place to park the car?

Scottboy's picture

then I might lose my parking spot if I go there tomorrow too , it is better to park down the road a bit & ride up you will see the trail on the other side of the fence it looks like a ant mound just ride the trail till you come to a grassy fire trail get too the top & turn right at the fence line the track is pretty worn in now & have fun, just be cautious first lap tho, there are surprises on the track ..

Steele1968's picture

There have been some complaints by residents about noise and cars being parked in the immediate area (*edit: to remove location details*) as more and more riders discover how much fun this track is. With respect to the residents environment, and so as not to give them more reason to push for it to be closed off, it would be best to park cars away from the area and thus not draw too much attention - a suggestion is to park in the sports ground car park in *edit: to remove location details* and then a short ride up the *edit: to remove location details*.
Also, rather then entering the area via *edit: to remove location details* is to use the entrance at the big timber gate *edit: to remove location details*). Ride up the 4wd track for about 200m and you then join the single track as it comes from the right and then turns to the left.
If you happen to see others parked in *edit: to remove location details*please suggest they park away from there and limit disturbing the residents nearby.
Enjoy your ride - it is a lot of fun.
Andrew.

Scottboy's picture

@ the playground & rode up to the track with my 6yr old today there were a few ppl out on the trails too it is good too see it getting used but I know what you are saying about the noise , especially all the hooting from ppl when we were out there too . Plus all the cars coming & going all the time

Flynny's picture

Guys posting it over the internet is a sure way to get the place shut down.
the promotion of illegal construction on the web has drawn the ire of the powers that be.

If you are one of the builders and hope to salvage something from this situation I'd suggest you make every effort to contact the contractor/developer in charge of converting it into a conservation area and begin negotiations to find out what can be done.

Know that the department is not pleased at how the trail and work has been publicly promoted so you may be on the back foot but at least you'll be on a foot.

In the mean time I'd keep promotion of it off the net

Scottboy's picture

Kiiks like one resident has got his wish this pkace is no more now. There are signs everywhere too keep out...

craked's picture

that's a real bummer, this was one of the best trails in Sydney ,so well built, but being so close to residential area it could never last! Sad

mike95's picture

I was there on Saturday for a early morning ride. Imo the signs are not official. I saw no government or council logos on them. I Couldn't believe how many of the signs had been errected. Must of been at least 12 placed throughout the trail. Its a shame its come to this. The grove has such great flow & is a ripper little xc loop.

Flynny's picture

It's what comes from publising dig days and rides on not so legal trails on open internet forums unfortunately. Kept off the web it probably would have stayed under the radar

crank's picture

Not in this case unfortunately Flynny.

The resident who has caused all the fuss has abused his position at Camden Council to get this officially closed down.

Flynny's picture

The person who contacted me about shutting the thread on here and rotorburn was from Office of Environment and Heritage. The main thing they were pissed off with was the promotion of illegal dig days on open internet forums.
It may have been one guy in council bringing up the original complaint but AFAIK it is not council who has the final say here is it controlled by Office of Environment and Heritage

crank's picture

The same person got them involved. Sad

G Croz's picture

The developer has been cutting down trees to block the trail. I think this action causes more damage than the trail ever did. It appears that there not too concerned about the bush just getting the riders out.

nrthrnben's picture

start a dialog, there is obviously a local need that is not being fulfilled, even if it ends up elsewhere..keep pushing

Flynny's picture

Problem is Ben this spot is, for all intents and purposes, basically private property, communally owned by the neighbors. It has several restrictions on it and its main focus is on conservation.

Each and every tree chopped down would need to be approved by the department. If not you may have cause for complaint.

klink2013's picture

Does any one know if they closed down the bike track at harrington grove ??????

Scottboy's picture

Its off limits the developer has gone thru with signs everywhere to stay out and put shrubs across the trails , iths been ridden for a while you can tell by the surface it is cracking and no dust on it .

ricker's picture
Scottboy's picture

It sure is closed , there are that many branches and shrubs shrewn across the trails its not funny . It was a joy too ride wth the young ones because it was perfect for them

Lucas Collins's picture

Hey all,
Where abouts is this track?
Im from Mount Annan and started mountain biking a few weeks ago. Looking for more tracks around me
Cheers Lucas

Steele1968's picture

This track is closed - owner / developer put signs up everywhere. Was great fun while it lasted.
Alternatives in area to Mt Annan Botanical Gardens are -
- Camden River - have a look in the Trails section in this site under Sydney South for details.
- Kentlyn - have a look at Trailflix site for details
- if you just want a bit of fitness training on firetrail try the loop around William Howe Reserve in Mt Annan - about 2km around and 40m of climbing.

Scottboy's picture

Me and my mate used to take our young fellas there and let them take off while we got ready it was a perfect beginner track for newbies and kids its a shame the word got out about this track so fast it ruined it for everyone .

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