Information from council RE: Pump Track @ Golden Jubilee

It seems at this point in time stage 2 the extended x country loop is on hold.
But the following information from the traffic study is interesting:

A survey of the mountain bike usage at the Manly Warringah War Memorial Park at Bantry Reserve (commonly known as Manly Dam) was also undertaken to obtain peak hour usages from the general public (5th and 7th of March 2011). The survey is of people cycling along the path (not doing tricks or special skills). It should be noted that the Manly Dam facility is the highest used track by the general public (excluding events) in Sydney and hence the highest usage at the Manly Dam applied to the Golden Jubilee Field would be the worst case.

The results of the Manly Warringah War Memorial Park survey showed the following:

Weekday
The weekday AM peak period usage is low with 20 and in the afternoon (after 3pm) the number is around 40 per hour.

Saturday
In the morning the peak usage of the trail was 80 per hour largely comprised of family group (parent and child) and friends cycling together. In the afternoon (after 3pm) the number of cyclists dropped to about 40 per hour. The number of family groups dropped significantly from the morning peak usage.

It should be noted that cycling for recreational purposes is dependent upon weather conditions and seasonal issues (less cycling in winter etc.).

I'm wondering with those stats if the person counting is counting the same people over again. I don't remember even Manly dam being that busy.

That sounds like a significant (>20%) increase over the 500/day peak use estimated in the Warringah Council Gondwana report

Feels about right to me.

After reading the letter I received from council I was left a little confused as to the status of the single track; the letter mentioned a single track and I thought it had been cancelled. I wrote to council again asking to clarify their position on the single track. This is their reply;

Hi Alberto

Thankyou for the correspondence. The single track will consist of approximately 2k track on the western face of the peninsular- within the footprint marked on the map.

Regards

Mary-Lou Lewis
Environmental Levy
Natural Areas Program Leader
Ku-ring-gai Council
94240961
0425233347

So looks like we will get a single track, albeit one we will have to do 8+ laps on to start getting a good workout. What do you all feel about it? Should we write to council telling them that a 2km loop single track wont work - erosion, crowding, etc? The information available is fairly scarce so we dont really know what they are proposing.

Before I go and write to council telling them how ridiculous their proposal is I wanted to know what you all think.

Alberto

take what you can get & then work from there!

I will cease and desist then on the "negative" observations with regards to length of track, erosion etc. . . .

Should we offer the council our help then [as a group]? Even if they don't accept it it may be something worthwhile doing?

Do we have a "leader" that could speak for us? Rob perhaps?

Looks like they're warming up a little...

Just got this response to an email I sent them earlier:

Hi [hawkeye]
Thanks for the email below and link to Do lectures. I found this site very interesting and am contemplating attending.
Regards
Mary-Lou Lewis
Environmental Levy
Natural Areas Program Leader
Ku-ring-gai Council
[snipped]

Ku-ring-gai to Global: Sustainability for a better tomorrow

________________________________________
From:
Sent: Wednesday, 4 May 2011 4:07 PM
To: Sigrid Banzer
Subject: RE: Mountain bike facility
Thank you for the update Sigrid.

You and the Mayor may find the following presentation regarding the impact of mountain biking in Wales to be interesting.

While there are some key differences to the situation in Ku Ring Gai, the observations regarding impact on the local community through tourism benefits, creative approaches to funding the works, and lifestyle changes among the local youth are worth noting. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the matter.

http://www.dolectures.co.uk/lectures/start-with-...

Warm regards,

Had a quick look at the site today lots of trucks dumping clean fill so something is happening

if the sniggle is being built in the indicated area, it will be a bit like Stromlo was at first - that area has pretty much no vegetation and looks like it is being further capped with clean fill (and hopefully some vegetation). Need to squirt half a bottle of water on your favourite tree each time you go there to encourage growth

From KMC:

"In late 2010 you made a written submission in relation to the Golden Jubilee Field draft Landscape Masterplan.
Following an analysis of all of the submissions some amendments have been made to the draft masterplan.
These amendments are explained in the attached letter which has been sent to over 700 households in Wahroonga.
The letter also details where on Council's website the latest draft masterplan may be viewed.

You are invited to attend a community information session in relation to the draft landscape masterplan which will be held on
Thursday 26 May 2011, at 6.30pm at the Ku-ring-gai Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, Golden Jubilee Field, Esk Street, Wahroonga."

The letter focuses on other sporting facility decisions at GJF, but mentions that "staff will also be present to answer questions on the progress of the mountain bike facility at the rear of GJF". It also says that council staff will make any "necessary amendments" to the draft masterplan following the meeting and before it is submitted to council.

Might be worth having a few mtbers there in case the loonies get stuck into the council staff about the mtb facility.