"Win for mountain bike riders" - Blue Mtns Gazette 21/3/2012

Downhill mountain bike riders have welcomed the council’s decision to construct a track in the Lower Mountains.

A report to last week’s Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) meeting recommended the development of downhill and cross country tracks be approved for Knapsack Reserve following a Federal Government department investigation into the plan.

The Commonweath Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPaC) confirmed BMCC’s findings the project would not have a significant impact on threatened species and ecological communities on the site, which had been a major concern of opponents.

The report was welcomed by a large contingent of mountain bike riders who attended the meeting, however concerns were raised by the Blue Mountains Conservation Society (BMCS) and several councillors questioned the Commonwealth department’s decision.

BMCS president Lachlan Garland said the track would go “right through the middle” of critically endangered species, while councillor El Gibbs warned its approval could set an undesirable precedent for development on the escarpment.

But the concerns were not shared by the majority of councillors around the table, and the staged construction of the facility was approved six votes to three.

Outside the meeting, Blue Mountains Off Road Cyclists members said they were very pleased with the decision after waiting for action on a legal downhill track for two years due to the closure of established tracks.

“The past two odd years have been a really trying time for a lot of the younger riders, who had been used to having a bit of a free rein,” group spokesman Paul King said.

“The Old Bathurst Road tracks were established for more than 15 years and were suddenly removed, and for younger riders that would have been a testing time.

“Fortunately there were a lot of older heads who could help them understand.”

Riders had met nearby residents to help allay concerns about the impact of downhill bike facilities, he said.

“We are on a first name basis with many Barnet Street residents and we did a Clean Up Australia Day project there to beautify their street and show them we were fair dinkum,” Paul said.

The riders would be working closely with council in the planning phase, having some say on the design of the trail and types of material to be used as well as lending a hand in construction.

“It’s the first and last chance to get it right with council, so we have to get it right the first time,” Paul said.

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