Ackland
chats d'élevage
The report is a compilation of the submissions that were received during the consultation period with brief responses to the general themes.
I applaud the management responses for not being drawn into alarmist and emotional public submissions.
My dot points:
Trail Network and scale of proposal
MTBers see new development in an area that they currently can't access but still ask for MORE AGAIN.
MTBers over estimate their skills and want MOAR BLACK DIAMOND GNAR
General support of well built and designed trails
Walkers consider MTB trails to be heresy
Walkers don't want to share their toys
Walkers think that bikes can just use the vehicle tracks and be happy.
Walkers see that MTB trails are being suggested as new construction and don't understand that they already have access and therefore don't need more walking trails.
Management responses: We support trail development, a separate process is being undertaken to rationalise the walking network across the region and is also subject to funding
Infrastructure and Services
MTBers are lazy and want shuttles - when did people get so lazy?
Everyone wants more parking
Walkers somehow think that MTBers using the same parking lot as them will cause tension!
Everyone wants loos, maps and bins.
Management responses: Car parks, loos and a cafe are part of the strategy along with new signage.
Development of the Strategy
MTBers are happy that someone is addressing cycling in the area.
Walkers wonder why MTBers were so heavily consulted in a MTB trail plan
Walkers and conservationists are sure that this must be against some sort of Act.
Walkers think that DirtArt just wrote a glowing feasibility study because they want to win the build contract (this may be somewhat true)
Management responses: We consulted appropriate groups particular to the subject matter. Trail alignments were constrained to identified areas. The strategy has been developed in line with NSW NP&W Act 1974
Impact on the Community
Lots of support for the benefits of active tourism and increased recreation, especially among youth and families.
Walkers carried on about "potential conflict", especially where (separated) trails came close to each other (the horror).
Walkers were sure that MTB access into an area already used for extensive bushwalking would surely scare the animals away.
Walkers claimed that the area was only suitable for passive recreation but failed to note that MTB is also classed as passive recreation.
Another paragraph about conflict despite overwhelming international precedent and research showing that the more often that people are exposed to a shared use environment, the less their perception of conflicts.
Management responses: Through staged openings, conflicts will be monitored and managed through signage and trail design. The network is designed for a wide variety of users.
Environmental and cultural Heritage impacts
Some valid points about aboriginal cultural sites.
General nonsense about MTB trails and their environmental impact being greater than any other form of trail based activity.
Management responses: Thanks for your responses but believe it or not, we've already thought about this a fair bit.
Future Management
Valid points that the strategy lacked detail on the governance of cross tenure networks.
MTBers were generally keen to form trail care groups and to help with trail construction and design where possible.
Walkers questioned the resourcing for maintenance.
Walking groups wanted equal investment in walking trails and facilities (despite there already being a significant walking network and obviously overlooking that upgraded trailhead facilities would benefit all users).
Risk averse folk were concerned about over crowding (this kinda supports the need for more trails) and liability.
NIMBY groups questioned whether banning MTB was considered in the MTB development strategy.
Management responses: We haven't totally worked out how cross tenure management will work but we're not that far down the garden path yet. Emergency response plans are easy enough so don't stress.
Next Steps
We're forming a big ass government working group (because that's super efficient) and we'll continue to put out documents once a year just to keep you on the hook for a while longer.
Also we don't have the funding to build anything yet so we're just treading water.
I applaud the management responses for not being drawn into alarmist and emotional public submissions.
My dot points:
Trail Network and scale of proposal
MTBers see new development in an area that they currently can't access but still ask for MORE AGAIN.
MTBers over estimate their skills and want MOAR BLACK DIAMOND GNAR
General support of well built and designed trails
Walkers consider MTB trails to be heresy
Walkers don't want to share their toys
Walkers think that bikes can just use the vehicle tracks and be happy.
Walkers see that MTB trails are being suggested as new construction and don't understand that they already have access and therefore don't need more walking trails.
Management responses: We support trail development, a separate process is being undertaken to rationalise the walking network across the region and is also subject to funding
Infrastructure and Services
MTBers are lazy and want shuttles - when did people get so lazy?
Everyone wants more parking
Walkers somehow think that MTBers using the same parking lot as them will cause tension!
Everyone wants loos, maps and bins.
Management responses: Car parks, loos and a cafe are part of the strategy along with new signage.
Development of the Strategy
MTBers are happy that someone is addressing cycling in the area.
Walkers wonder why MTBers were so heavily consulted in a MTB trail plan
Walkers and conservationists are sure that this must be against some sort of Act.
Walkers think that DirtArt just wrote a glowing feasibility study because they want to win the build contract (this may be somewhat true)
Management responses: We consulted appropriate groups particular to the subject matter. Trail alignments were constrained to identified areas. The strategy has been developed in line with NSW NP&W Act 1974
Impact on the Community
Lots of support for the benefits of active tourism and increased recreation, especially among youth and families.
Walkers carried on about "potential conflict", especially where (separated) trails came close to each other (the horror).
Walkers were sure that MTB access into an area already used for extensive bushwalking would surely scare the animals away.
Walkers claimed that the area was only suitable for passive recreation but failed to note that MTB is also classed as passive recreation.
Another paragraph about conflict despite overwhelming international precedent and research showing that the more often that people are exposed to a shared use environment, the less their perception of conflicts.
Management responses: Through staged openings, conflicts will be monitored and managed through signage and trail design. The network is designed for a wide variety of users.
Environmental and cultural Heritage impacts
Some valid points about aboriginal cultural sites.
General nonsense about MTB trails and their environmental impact being greater than any other form of trail based activity.
Management responses: Thanks for your responses but believe it or not, we've already thought about this a fair bit.
Future Management
Valid points that the strategy lacked detail on the governance of cross tenure networks.
MTBers were generally keen to form trail care groups and to help with trail construction and design where possible.
Walkers questioned the resourcing for maintenance.
Walking groups wanted equal investment in walking trails and facilities (despite there already being a significant walking network and obviously overlooking that upgraded trailhead facilities would benefit all users).
Risk averse folk were concerned about over crowding (this kinda supports the need for more trails) and liability.
NIMBY groups questioned whether banning MTB was considered in the MTB development strategy.
Management responses: We haven't totally worked out how cross tenure management will work but we're not that far down the garden path yet. Emergency response plans are easy enough so don't stress.
Next Steps
We're forming a big ass government working group (because that's super efficient) and we'll continue to put out documents once a year just to keep you on the hook for a while longer.
Also we don't have the funding to build anything yet so we're just treading water.