NSW IMBA Trail Sustainability Workshop - Sydney April 27-29

[crank1979]

http://imba-au.com/content/2010-imba-australia-trail-sustainability-workshops

2010 IMBA Australia Trail Sustainability Workshops
Submitted by Nick on Wed, 04/07/2010 - 11:14 General News

It has begun; Nick and Joey are on the road conducting trail workshops in 5 locations across Australia to promote sustainable mountain bike management, tourism and recreation.

Joey Klein, IMBA Trail specialist from the US will be with us once again to share his wealth of knowledge and skills in trail management and development to demonstrate international best practice in trail sustainability. Joey’s experience in Australia and overseas will allow him to make sound recommendations and introduce trail development techniques that will enable local land managers to develop realistic solutions to the trail issues that exist in Australia.

In order to achieve this intention, the Workshops will highlight a number of positive examples from around Australia and the globe, to help to improve land managers perceptions of mountain bike culture and how to work with mountain bike riders. In addition to this it is important to inform mountain bike riders of the land management considerations that need to be incorporated into any successful trail network. Through the Workshops, IMBA Australia aims to enhance the capacity of Australian land managers, mountain bike riders and policy makers to work together and provide great opportunities for Australian mountain bike riders without compromising biodiversity values in our unique landscapes.

Workshop Dates

Cairns - April 7th and 8th (that’s today!!!)
Brisbane - April 12th and 13th
Margaret River - April 16th and 17th
Melbourne - April 22nd and 23rd
Sydney - April 27th, 28th and 29th

At this stage we have significant bookings from National Parks Services, Land Management Agencies and Local Councils in Queensland, WA, Victoria and NSW. This level of engagement with land managers is unprecedented in Australia, with every Workshop filling up with land managers so that they can learn about the IMBA techniques for working with bike riders and building great trails.

It’s very exciting and we will be bringing regular updates to you over the course of this rather frantic national tour of trail advocacy.

Later......

I emailed asking about attendance and it's basically if you can pay you can attend. I can't attend due to work, as i imagine will be the case with a lot of people. I joined IMBA though so hopefully that helps a little.

Emailing nick@imba-au.com get you the information and registration package.

 

[Trevor_S]

I emailed asking about attendance and it's basically if you can pay you can attend.

I went to the Bris 2 day workshop, worth it if you are a trail builder to meet with other like minded souls, to meet the king of international trail advocacy Joey Klien, Nic Bowman the new IMBA Aus director as well as to network with the multitude of land mangers.

The course is broken down into 2 days: introduction and managing the users on the first day and sustainable trail design

I have been an IMBA International member for some time but when it's up for renewal I will swing over to Aus membership (I spoke to Nic about having this possibly done "automatically" ?)

Couple pics etc here and more here

 

[crank1979]

I went to the Bris 2 day workshop, worth it if you are a trail builder to meet with other like minded souls, to meet the king of international trail advocacy Joey Klien, Nic Bowman the new IMBA Aus director as well as to network with the multitude of land mangers.

The course is broken down into 2 days: introduction and managing the users on the first day and sustainable trail design

I have been an IMBA International member for some time but when it's up for renewal I will swing over to Aus membership (I spoke to Nic about having this possibly done "automatically" ?)

Yes, the workshops seem very well thought out and organisation appears much better than conferences i've been to set up by government departments.

I tried to join up via the IMBA AU site but didn't have any luck so had to do it via the US site. Automatic switching over would be great.

 

[dcrofty]

Bump.

It would be good to get as many people along to this as possible, be good to see lots of people trained up.

I've asked work whether they will allow me to attend the third day session but its not really my area so I'm not getting my hopes up too high.

 

[jaybe]

Bump.

It would be good to get as many people along to this as possible, be good to see lots of people trained up.

I've asked work whether they will allow me to attend the third day session but its not really my area so I'm not getting my hopes up too high.

I am assuming that the work shop is a full day affair? i.e. 9-5? No evening sessions?

 

[dcrofty]

I am assuming that the work shop is a full day affair? i.e. 9-5? No evening sessions?

Yeah, its ideally aimed at land managers so its in business hours. Guess this is both a positive and a negative.

I was hoping that enough other people would be able to come along to get the training and then they could pass it on to others later on.

I've done the IMBA workshop a couple of times when i was living in Canada and its really good, hopefully there will be a few people who can make it.

 

[Dumbellina]

Be there to meet Dumbellina in the flesh...

 

[FINX74]

IMBA Workshops

There is a few of us from the HSMBA steering committee going along - should be really good. I am really looking forward to putting what I learn into practice on the new Hornsby trails soon.

 

[dcrofty]

I'm In!

Couldn't manage the first two days but scored approval from work to go tomorrow. Stoked.

I'll be the bloke with a big hat and the bush chook on the shoulders- see you all tomorrow

Crofty

 

[sammydog]

I couldn't get there, but there were a few mtb's from Glenrock there along with some of the Glenrock NPWS staff. We were lucky enough to walk the trails on sunday with Nic though, so that was sweet.

How are people finding the workshop?

 

[scratchy]

Went to the WA one and considering Joey has been to Australia 7 times it was a good passing of the batton. Nick has had his balls to the wall since starting IMBA in October in Aus. I know he wants to get online rego happening, but at this point it is simply "on the list".

This is more aimed at land managers so don't be surprised if there is one later in the year more trail building focussed.
If you're a senior club member or advocate and know of the names of people in government you have to deal with, actually hanging with them for 2 days is worth it alone.

In WA hopefully some issues got sorted on that front alone.

 

[dcrofty]

Bit late but I thought I'd throw up a few thoughts about this.

Sounds pretty successful to me, Was chatting to Nick and he was saying that the numbers had exceeded his expectations so that's a positive. Work allowed me to attend one day which was pretty cool given its not my core duties. Saw about 7-8 other Parks staff on the same day I was there so that's pretty good too.

Otherwise it was great to see some of the projects that people are doing around the place. I'd never met Nick before but he seems like a nice bloke and has a very obvious passion for what he does. Great to see.

And lastly It was fantastic to see a Councillor from Warringah council there for the whole three days. Warringah council copped a bit of a hiding over the Manly Dam thingo a little while ago so to see someone of influence like a councillor taking the time to get a good handle on the issue was very pleasing to see.

what did everyone else think?


crofty

 

[sammydog]

I couldn't be there, but I have heard positive stuff from NPWS staff and from the mtb guys they sent down.

 

[RED_RACER]

we have a group of guys from Port Macquarie who will be starting work on an in town mtb track. Should we get Nick to run one for us or should we hang out for another group to host. How often are these things on?

 

[scratchy]

Once every year to two years. If you have a specific need, contact him directly through the IMBA website.