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Manly Dam
Warringah Council Meeting - Show support with silent protest
Council Chambers, Civic Centre, 725 Pittwater Road, Dee Why (enter Civic Drive)
Council need to be shown immediately what a mistake has been made, and how many riders are effected by the recent Manly Dam trail closure.
As such it would be a very good idea to show up at this meeting for a silent show of support. Speakers are not allowed at this meeting and rowdy, insulant or other petty behavior would not help our cause one bit.
Please wear your riding gear and helmet so council are sure where your allegiance lies.
Extra Warringah Council Meetings Clarified
There has been some confusion about the extraordinary Warringah council meetings coming up but have had these clarified:
February 23: This meeting is only to cover the items that were missed on Feb 9 in their famous, meeting of disarray. The motion to re-instate volunteer maintenance days at Manly Dam is on the agenda, but the recent closure is not.
March 23: In this meeting council will discuss options for the future of riding at Manly Dam (ie. the recent closure).
Given council need to be shown immediately what a mistake has been made, and how many riders are effected, and as others have suggested it would be a very good idea to show up at the Feb 23 meeting for a silent show of support. Speakers are not allowed at this meeting and rowdy, insulant or other petty behavior would not help our cause one bit.
While I would encourage everyone who can to attend both meetings to show support, please only go to these meetings if you know you can control your emotions, bite your tongue, and have the patience of a saint!
Two events in the calendar here:
http://nobmob.com/node/13111
http://nobmob.com/node/13112
The meetings will be held at: Council Chambers, Civic Centre, 725 Pittwater Road, Dee Why (enter Civic Drive) and commence 6pm. More details should appear here:
http://www.warringah.nsw.gov.au/council_then/meetings_council.aspx
FB: Hands off Manly Dam MTB Trail
Bureaucrat's Errors Mean closure for Manly Dam
Update: Want to show support for riding at Manly Dam? Sign up to Manly Dam - Save the date and come along!
Update 17/2: Press coverage of this:
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/...
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/...
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/...
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/...
Update 22/2: Warringah Council issue a FAQ "...in response to many letters and emails received..."
Update 24/2: Track will be re-opened to riders but at the expense of walkers. Press coverage here:
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/...
I just don't know how to put this, so am going to just get straight to the point:
Manly Warringah Council have decided that due to a bureaucratic error that happened many years ago the single track sections of the Manly Dam circuit have never actually been technically legal riding. As such, instead of turning a blind eye, or deciding to make an extra effort to work around what is their mistake, they are to penalise riders by closing sections of the track.
If you look at the linked map, it's obvious that the circuit is basically unridable given this decision.
They are sighting safety concerns for this, but that is a complete joke as, as far as I'm aware there have been no documented incidents involving riders and another party there. I spoke to the Mayor on Wednesday night who admits this isn't an issue as he is aware of "only one incident in 5 (or is that 10?) years" (he wasn't sure of the timeframe).
Please take a look at the closed sections on the map (and you note the map says that 'Penalties Apply') and steer clear of these tracks.
Reading the release it seems this will be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the council Mar 23 to discuss this. I'd advise anyone with interest in riding Manly Dam to attend. You might also like to email or call councillors (their contact details are available on Warringah's Elected Council page) with your views on this.
Please see the attached map, and full press release below:
Dam conditions
The Trail conditions for manly dam havent been updated in 5 days so i thought i'd ask the question, how is it looking?
Manly Dam.
King Street (near corner with Arana Street), Manly Vale. You know - outside Manly Hydraulics Lab.
Easy lap(s) around the Dam followed by a cool off swim in the dam. Open to families. We will be bringing kids who will ride. If there are enough riders we can break into groups for different speeds / number of laps. May even bring the esky.
Late afternoon at the Dam
King Street (near corner with Arana Street), Manly Vale. You know - outside Manly Hydraulics Lab.
For those not working, or that can slink off early a few late afternoon laps of the dam might be in order.
Only plan on staying a couple hours so lights will not be required.
This will be socially paced so come on over! 
Black snake performance enhancer
Just about ran over a large (like, python size !!) red belly black snake at the top of the Dam last sunday overlooking the golf course. As it reared up ready to wrap around my wheel, leap off and bite my face off, an amazing burst of energy drove my bike forward.
I was buzzing for minutes. Watch for them snakes this weekend !!!
What needs work at the Dam?
The Manly Dam rangers keep saying they are planning maintenance days there, with a hope that this might happen sooner rather than later think we should make a list of what needs fixing there.
Now, design issues aside, at this point let's focus on the current circuit as it stands and list where it could do with some TLC. Don't get into how you think the points should be repaired - just listing them should do for now.
Post your comments and I'll summarise here. I'll kick off with 4 points:
- Golf course sniggle: the chains are broken on a couple of boardwalks.
Lost car key picked up by someone at Manly Dam.....
Lost car keys at Manly Dam
UPDATE 22/09 - Went back today, which is the earliest I could get there and they are now gone.......Found a branch in the midle of the trail before the rise, as described in some of the posts below, but now no longer there. If anyone has picked up for safekeping, please get in touch.
thanks
John
I was riding Manly Dam with a mate this morning around 7.30 and on returning to the car in the lower car park I discovered every mountain biker's worst nightmare - my car keys stashed so safely under my seat had vanished.