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BMORC and Councillor Howard McCallum inspect the new downhill alignment.
Meeting at short notice was no barrier for Greens Councillor Howard McCullam who embraced the opportunity to get an on the ground appreciation of exactly what is happening out at Knapsack Reserve with the proposed downhill alignment.
Howard McCallum was an enthusiastic participant in my guided tour of the old alignments and the new aligment and also took time talk to Barnet St resident Ashley who put forard some his opinions on the topic of vehicle access to the area and appropriate signage in his street.
I asked Howard to supply a quote and I will be sure to provide same when i receive his email.
I am always a little guarded when it comes to the downhill track and the opportunity to demonstrate to Howard the benefits of adopting the new alignment and regenerating the old unsustainable lines was a great opportunity and on behalf of the BMORC we would like to thank him for his effort.
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Is that Chris from Blackmans and Filthy Phil Learned? Wow, celebrities at the photo shoot!
Very good of the Councillor to take time out at such short notice, and also to attend the recent community consultation.
Thats two of the ward councillors, (include Clr Greenhill) that have taken an active interest in what is happening so that they can ensure they have sufficient and correct information to back their decisions.
Good Work Kingy, be good to get other ward councillors that maybe interested to see whats happening.
Looks suspicously like chris and Phil, wheres Ben?
Its awesome the Clr McCallum came out at such short notice and showed real interest in understanding the issue.
I know its probably a very small issue for the councillors, but its good to see Clr Greenhill and Clr McCallum taking that bit of their time gain an on the ground understanding.
Very impressed with Greens Councillor Howard McCallum who intimated that based on his faith in the council staff Frank Garfallow and Matt Chambers would support their view that the new alignment would be the best possible solution for the park, while we were on the side of the mountain I was explaining to Howard how the tracks originated from fall lines and natural water ways that had been traversed by walkers, not sure if he was totally convinced on the point, then you would never believe our luck we were about half way down the new alignment when we encountered a walker bush bashing straight up the side of the mountain on a water course. When we descended to the exit onto the fireroad via the last bit of water course where the water sheds to the flat we saw the damage that the mans shoes had done to the soil, it donstrated perfectly how the original tracks that made long ago and adopted by riders since managed to get in a poor state so quickly being able to relate the use of the inclometre and the techniques we would employ to create sustainable trail was invaluable and I eagerly await his email to gain a take on hid perspective of the new alignment.
Once again thanks to Howard for taking interest in the Knapsack project here is email from Howard reflecting on his site inspection at Knapsack park.
"Having attended a public meeting on the future of Down-Hill Bike Tracks in mid-October, I was keen to see first-hand where the proposed track was going to go.
Yesterday I accepted an invitation from Paul King to take a look at the area. We walked the full length of the proposed track to the south-east of Marge's Lookout, some of which has been marked with ribbons and little flags, so I could gain a proper appreciation of the proposal. Significant lengths of existing track are clearly too steep and degraded, owing, presumably, to a combination of poor choice of path and use by motor-bikes.
The area of most contention, as it is in 'virgin' bush, is preferred by the riders as it will afford a more gentle ride as it zig-zags down and across the slope with turn-backs in appropriate places. With careful engineering and construction, I believe that this can be an acceptable and sustainable alternative to the current track in that area.
As the current Knapsack Park Plan of Management allows for one down-hill bike track, I support the path of the track as preferred by the riders, provided it is is designed, engineered, constructed and maintained so as to be sustainable. This will, of course, require the concurrence of the Blue Mountains City Council staff and consultation with other relevant bodies and groups. It also requires a stringent environmental evaluation to ensure the proposals are environmentally acceptable.
I acknowledge the restraint and patience of the many and various down-hillers while this process is underway and am hopeful that a good outcome will result.
Regards,
Howard McCallum
Councillor
Ward Four
Blue Mountains City Council"
Howard's comments are certainly positive and reflect our perception of the process.
With mountain bikes now growing in popularity the adoption of old informal walking tracks that have been created on original fall lines and water courses in "virgin" by bush walkers for many decades is beginning to take its toll.
As environmentally aware residents and legitimate users of the Knapsack reserve we appreciate the opportunity to engineer a purpose built trail that uses the internationally recognised best practice techniques currently used through out the world by many groups as published in the International Mountain Bike Association trail building manual.
We are excited with the opportunity to rehabilitate the old walking trails that have been blazed through "virgin" bush in an informal manner with little thought for the environment and the habitat of the native flora and fauna.
The great thing about being able to establish a sustainable trail in the area is the fact that we stand to regain 4 times the land area we will adopt for the new sustainable alignment by closing and brush matting the old walking trails, we know that riding these trails is not an option.
Full marks to Councillors and Council staff for recognising that adopting a new alignment is the only way forward to make downhill mountain biking in the park truly sustainable for generations to come.
We are heartened by comments by Blue Mountains City Council Environmental Officer Soren Mortenson regarding a time frame of 3 -5 years for areas regenerated to return to normal.
The careful selection of path of the new alignment was no accident the intensive studying of the Blue Mountains City Council Environmental map of the area ensured that the trail will not intefere with any areas of Ecological Endangered Communities (EEC) and we have adopted sections of the original walking trail which will lend itself to modification to provide sustainability, a win / win for users of the area and the environment by negating the need to intrude unnecessarily undisturbed areas of bush.
I can't imagine that all those years ago when the bush walkers began traversing the side of the mountain forming these trails on the fall lines and watercourses, that decades later their legacy would potentially threaten the very thing that they were there to enjoy.
We certainly did not create the problems that exist but you can rest assured that we will fix them, stay tuned riders and residents the process in nearing completion and when the call for work crews to assist council staff in the forming of the trail comes we will be looking for those who have been a part of the process up to now to bring their labour and dedicate themselves to the task at hand.
An exciting time ahead I look forward to being part of this tremendous opportunity to make Knapsack park a jewel in the crown of the beautiful Blue Mountains area.
Great work Mate and a real model of the engagement process ... and what a stroke of luck getting that walker to trudge up ... gold