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Northern Beaches Trail Advocacy
Skippy rides a Cannondale
Has anybody seen this week's Meldrum's Manifesto cartoon taking the piss out of the trail access debate in today's Manly Daily?
On the right is a sign saying "National Park and Animal Sanctuary: Absolutely and Utterly NO Mountain Bikes". Two rangers are looking at each other with their eyes bulging in shock. The subject of their amazement is a kangaroo smirking at them with a cheeky grin, sailing through the air over their heads on a yellow hardtail with a Headshok fork.
Ranger Left says to Ranger Right "I think I'm just gonna try to forget I ever SAW that..."
Glenrcok Draft POM process update
Just a quick update for those of you who took the time to put in a submission to the draft Glenrock POM.
Speaking to NPWS there were over 180 submissions to the proposal, with the vast majority being pro mtb access.
From a mtb stand point, the submissions were positive with the main concern raised being access to the southern area of the park. What NPWS do with this, I don't know, but I am quietly confident that the southern boundary, while not being removed, may be amended. Time will tell.
Manly Daily - Make it a waste cycle
Yet more press coverage:
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/...
I said (yes, this is getting comical):
In theory the landfill site might make a nice riding venue. However, back in 2001 it was scheduled for closure in 2005. I understand that date has since been pushed back to mid-2010 at the earliest - a date hardly likely to be kept as WSN now proposes that an extra 180,000 tonnes of landfill be dumped here. Given the constant slippage in this date how can the community possibly rely on what might happen there?
Manly Daily - Riders fear bikes ban call
Another interesting article:
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/...
I replied,
Sorry, but I find Mr Cox's comments hypocritical.
There are many places in National Parks where walkers have carved hundreds of steps into the sandstone. Eg. Giant Stairway (Blue Mountains), from the North of Banry Bay down to the water (Garigal), North end of Warrimoo Track (Ku-ring-gai), etc, etc.
I don't know what damage Mr Cox is talking about, but whatever it is cannot even come close to the above examples.
DECC Advisory committees
What are NPW Regional Advisory committees?National Parks and Wildlife (NPW) Regional Advisory Committees play an important role in the relationship between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the community. There are 18 regional advisory committees across New South Wales, plus a special committee for Hartley Historic Site.
National Parks Association entrance exam.
(In ref to NPA media release 25 June 2009: REGIONAL PLANNING NEEDED TO KEEP MOUNTAIN BIKING OUT OF NATIONAL PARKS)
Question 1
Fragile Sydney Sandstone
http://www.npansw.org.au/web/news/media_release....
"NPA invites Mr Baird to join it in inspecting the damage done by mountain bikes within the fragile Sydney sandstone bushland..."
Erm... OK... and I invite him to come look at the 1000s of steps that walkers have cut into steep paths in the fragile Sydney sandstone.
Pot... kettle... etc 
Update: BTW, I should point out that the NPA in no way controls NPWS. They are simply an independent lobby organisation, just as we are.
Australian Alps national parks Cycling Code
I know we've been talking about this a lot recently, but purely by chance my Google Alert (which I have set to look for various cycling related things on government sites) sent this just now:
http://www.australianalps.environment.gov.au/car...
This section is particularly unfriendly:
If cyclists are to continue to experience the pleasure of riding in relatively undisturbed areas, they will need to follow this code and limit the impact of their visit:
National Parks and Wildlife Act
Thought a few people might like this, given the chat about NPWS of late.
Basically, National Parks appear to be governed by the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 No 80. It's online here:
http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/scanview/infor...
Some interesting parts are (and I have snipped some of the sections of course):
2A Objects of Act:
(1) The objects of this Act are as follows:
Unemployed paid to bike trails
If only this could happen in NSW
A GROUP of 10 long-term unemployed jobseekers are gaining new skills while they help to build a world-class mountain bike trail at Amamoor in the Mary Valley
More here: http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2009/06/09/v...