Hi Craig,
I would absolutely LOVE to work on this with you.
My son was into Mountain bike riding and went to the All Schools Carnival in Thredbo a couple of years back. He stopped riding because it was TOO difficult and RISKY (was fined by NPWS).
My other son rides trail bikes….and has also been fined. Was interesting though when I challenged his fine and called on the NPWS to send through all the certificates of Titles for the escarpment land that is owned and controlled by them because they couldn’t and Im still waiting.
I have since done my own conveyance checks on a lot of the escarpment lands and find it incredible interesting that much of the Illawarra escarpment was Unknown holder in 1998 and Rod Oxley and Co seem to have allowed this land to go into private ownership after the Commission of Inquiry when it was recommended that Council secure more escarpment land. I will be calling on a review of all Escarpment land ownership if I get elected to Council.
I don’t want residential development on the escarpment especially land that should have been secured by Council and not allowed to be obtained by a process of incompetence (to be kind) and insider knowledge. I see sporting use like what you have suggested and Sport Shooting, hunting, camp sites and a Cable Car up Mt Keira as having many bonuses including the financial capability to protect and rehabilitate the escarpment; develop and maintain wonderful walking treks give community greater access and personal commitment to its protection.
I would very much like to meet with you regarding this….whether Im elected or not.
Kindest regards,
Vicki Curran – 0415 918 282
Hi Craig, I’m a keen cyclist and my younger brother use to ride in downhill events. If I get elected I am happy to meet up with people to discuss any possible sites that might be suitable. The first thing I want to do is get the Council’s Bicycle Taskforce back up and running, as it was disbanded by the administrators, then we can invite people along to one of the meetings. I guess the main concerns are liability if someone has an accident and people need to be responsible for maintaining the tracks.
Andrew Anthony
Hello,
Your issue is very relevant and most likely could be a generator of employment and tourism.
This is one of the ideas that can be brought up when I get elected to Council.
As long as the location of the mountain bike facility does not encrouch or have an effect on the Illawarra escarpment, I am more than happy to take up the issue.
I guess I do not want to overstep the relevance of next weekend, so I can assure you I would gladly look at this issue, along with the many others I have been given, after the Election.
Thank you for bringing it to my attention, I hope I can look forward to working with you on the revitalisation of this City.
Kindest regards,
Len Fares.
Good Morning Craig
For one who walks through the bushland near Mt Keira I am appreciative of the work mountain bike riders have done in keeping tracks open. I have had a letter published in the Mercury praising the effort of the youth in the mountain bike sport for their effort and the commitment.
However I am concerned that some bikers are not showing respect to the tracks by riding on them when wet or are creating tracks which can lead to erosion.
For the future I feel we need to manage the escarpment which includes creating fire trails and managed mountain bike trails.
I have proposed to others part of the planning criteria should include planned recreational use that is managed and authorised to not cause uncontrolled damage to the environment. Mountain biking should fit into this criteria.
I do also see the opportunity to introduce localised mountain bike “development opportunities” in detention basins and the like, for the younger generation to enjoy and learn, both skills, and respect for environment, before releasing them to the escarpment. For this I would like to have input from organisations like your own.
Should I be elected I will be interested in talking with all interested groups in the future planning and development of the escarpment. I have given a similar commitment to the protection of the Illawarra escarpment group and local forum group 5.
Hope to meet.
Ian Young
I definitely believe in defined regulated tracks through those areas, and a commitment from the general group of riders too, to reprimand and stop anyone that deviates to carve up the bushland on each side
cheers
Natasha Watson
Greens Candidate Ward 1
Has anyone else had anyfeedback or has anybody else been bothered to contact councilers?
... needs to be a partnership between all stakeholders, including potential land managers (Council, NPWS) and Land owners (Miners, etc ), Local Clubs, Peak MTB bodies such as IMBA, NSWMTB and more importantly Riders and Residents.
