Moar from lysty, just an update on the current situation...
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An update from Flow Mountain Bike on the Yarra Ranges Mountain Bikers Warburton MTB project.
LDTR was asked to comment on our own plans to expand our trail network which happen to be the busiest MTB trails in the country, yet they have half the distance of trail when compared to other busy MTB parks.
Unfortunately, we don't have anything new to report from Parks Victoria since the draft amended management plan public consultation closed in late January. We have been expecting to see a report from PV as to the outcome of the feedback from the community, yet 4 months on we have no more information despite the quickly closing deadline for the draft management plan to come into effect by the end of the financial year. - The draft plan as it stands would effectively block any meaningful trail expansion due to the increase of the Special Protection Area Overlay from 2.5% of the park to just over 54%
Our trail network has seen a 30% increase in MTB riders during Covid-19, the bike industry is going off! The importance of accessible trail networks around the state is clearer now more than ever for the mental and physical stimulation of our communities. Yet our government can't even find the money for recurrent funding of the maintenance of our trails.
Our new trail proposal sought to double the size of our network and hence reduce the load on the current trails, oh how handy they would be right now! - Not only that as a part of our proposal we advocated for proper recurrent funding for maintenance too... once again that would have likely saved us from the current closures.
We wish the Yarra Ranges Mountain Bikers all the best in their project, it seems that the powers that be are against us all.
LDTR
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