New gate near St Ives Showground

Also found the gate while riding at the weekend. The location is:-

http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&ll=-33.704951...

I spoke to NPWS - the gate is nothing to do with them. They suggest we ask council. Erm... I wouldn't know how to do that though. Any takers?

Don't know whether it will help. After I came across the gate I rode up there to see if I could find someone but the info centre seems like it is 'unmaned' and the leaflets look like they may be volunteers who come down to speak to kids groups etc.

Thanks Nick for your understanding.

Having come from British Columbia (Canada) where mountain bike riding is extremely popular, I understand your disappointment. Perhaps in the not too distant future we'll be able to find a solution that suits all users. Perhaps a one directional gate that can fit a rider and bike through but doesn't allow access from the Showground to the Garden. If you know of any access solutions from other places, please let me know. I can't guarantee it (factors such as budget play a part as to what I can do as well as visitor and Garden security) but it's certainly worth considering.

Kind regards

Valerie Close
Bushland Education Centre Coordinator
Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden
420 Mona Vale Road
St Ives 2075
Ph: 9424 0352
Fax: 9440 0439
Ku-ring-gai to Global: Sustainability for a better tomorrow

Started writing an email to KMC and kept going.

Dear Ms Close,

Thankyou for your detailed response. I understand why dogs must be kept out of Wildflower garden and congratulate your attempts at protecting both the patrons and flaura and fauna of the gardens. Unfortunately, I believe the current solution penalises and punishes walkers and riders who wish to use the area in a sustainable way.

I (and many of my friends) have regularly used the fire trail which leads up to St Ives showground over the last 18 months. We have trained and participated in the 07 and 08 Oxfam Trailwalker which passed through Wildflower Gardens and St Ives Showground. Our team has continued to walk in preparation for a 3rd year in a row. We also do a great fitness ride along fire trails from Belrose, through the Cascades, across Mona Vale Rd at Kitchner, back onto the fire trail, up to Wildflower Gardens, on to St Ives Showground for a water break and back again. While you have pointed to two other possibilities to bypass the fire trail up to the showground both of these are along the road and do not create the same experience. It would similar to suggesting someone do a nature walk along Mona Vale Rd and try and ignore the traffic on a busy road. I would be very disappointed if both of these great recreation opportunities were limited because of irresponsible members of the public.

Being a regular user of this area, I have seen a number of dog walkers along the fire trail between the gardens (never inside) and the showground but the only ‘no dogs’ sign I can remember is near the intersection with the asphalt path. While this may only be about 25m past the gate I think this an important point to make. The reason for this is the area between the gate and the asphalt path has a strange appearance and feel to it. It has a sprinkler in the middle of the trail, backs onto a large grassed area and appears to have motor vehicles travel across it regularly. Up until I received you previous email I always assumed that small area between the gate and the path was the back of private land and the asphalt was the border of Wildflower Gardens. This brings me back to the ‘no dogs’ sign which (from memory) is right in this area. While this is not an excuse for ignoring the sign, that area does not feel like a conservation area and I assume that some normally responsible members of public may feel that the sign lacks authority or purpose and choose to ignore the sign.

Is a possible compromise an automatic closing gate, which is left unlocked with a couple of big “no dogs” signs right in the middle. It could also have a short message to the reasons why this gate has been replaced. I think this would make it much clearer to dog walkers that there is no access for dogs and they must turn around at the gate. This would demonstrate authority and purpose to people who know they should not enter with their dogs. I think this is an appropriate form of risk management which makes the ‘no dogs’ message clear, but still allows responsible riders and walkers access to the trails. Should this trial not work then all that would be required would be returning the lock and chain to the gate.

As for the overnight security issues I’m sure if people wanted to get in the gardens at night, unfortunately they will. There are plenty (as I’m sure you are aware) of areas into the gardens and I feel the environment would be seriously compromised if a gate/fence fully enclosed the gardens.

Again, I thank you for your time on this issue. It appears you wish to engage in a productive relationship with the mountain bike community and regardless of the final outcome, I commend you for that.

Kind regards,