Bantry Bay update for 21 Jan

Anyone got any advice as to the best way to link Manly Dam, Ghania (and possibly Serrata) into one loop ?

Blucky

I'm north side so start at Forrestville Park. This also obviously works from other starting points. This isn't how it was originally designed to work which I've explained further down.

Fire trail to Serrata then return. Up Daisy Duke to Gahnia.

Exit Gahnia on right for short distance then cross to Manly Dam.

After golf course there are a few options.

1/ do full loop of Dam and do golf course again then cross over and head down descending track to car.

2/cross over and go up muppets and hit up pump track and then do extended loop of Manly Dam plus golf course for second time and head back down descending track to car.

3/ just go up muppets and do pump track and then head back down to car

4/ go straight back to car down descending track.

Originally the plan was that Gahnia would run all the way to Seaforth Oval, this was where the photo shoot was with government officials when the track was announced. However Manly Council did not get on board as its their oval. The oval was supposed to be a trail head with car parking. Bikes could cross at the lights to Manly Dam and resolve the road safety issue with the crossing point now created and lack of parking.

There was talk about Warringah Council creating a new beginner loop at the Aquatic Centre with links to and from the Dam. However this has not yet happened. From the aquatic centre there was talk of a new track to be coordinated with Roads and Maritime and Crown where Possums is now but running in the opposite direction. This was supposed to resolve the significant road safety issue with the old and now still current crossing point at the end of the golf course track where it meets the firetrail. It also would have kept bikes well away from the carvings at this location. Resolving these two issues was half the point of the new Bantry Bay tracks.

Warringah Council was also supposed to build the connection at Forrestville Park to get between Serrata and Gahnia but this did not happen in time for the completion of the NPWS tracks. They did update the Plan of Management to allow for tracks but have not yet gone any further.

Serrata is also shorter than originally planned as the entry point was from my understanding originally on Warringah Council land and had to be shifted further along the firetrail. This resulted in a much steeper and more technical trail entry and upped the track from green to blue, not a bad thing.

The additional track from both councils would have created two independent circuits, Manly Dam and Bantry Bay, using some firetrail that could be connected in a figure 8. Hopefully they get there eventually.

Perhaps the plan to merge Sydney councils and potentially increased management by the State government of assets important to recreation and public health will result in better coordination of infrastructure.

Also - what is this pump track?

Can you let us know where the following are:

Daisy Duke
Muppets
Pump Track

Cheers, Blucky