Northern Sydney Mountain Bike Program
Cycling is a healthy way for visitors to enjoy the natural heritage of our parks and appreciate the importance of their conservation.
Mountain biking is a rapidly growing recreational activity in NSW and there is high demand for this legitimate recreational activity in our parks and reserves. At the same time illegal mountain biking on walking tracks has caused a problem in some of our parks.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Sustainable Mountain Biking Strategy is the first time we have a clear way forward to make sure mountain biking in national parks is safe, fun and sustainable.
What's proposed for mountain bikers in northern Sydney?
The NPWS is committed to providing high quality mountain bike experiences in NSW parks and reserves. This may include the construction of dedicated sections of 'single track' in suitable locations.
A priority is the provision of a sustainable mountain bike track in a northern Sydney park or reserve.
The NPWS has identified three potential sites in northern Sydney for the design, assessment and construction of a track of around 10km in length. The three potential sites are located at Bantry Bay and Kamber in Garigal National Park and Stringybark Ridge in Berowra Valley Regional Park.
Community field days were held over late October and early November 2011 to inspect the potential sites. The NPWS undertook a preliminary environmental assessment over the same period. This suggested that the Bantry Bay and Stringybark Ridge sites have better potential than the Kamber site.
Detailed environmental impact assessment is currently underway along the proposed route of the Bantry Bay and Stringybark Ridge tracks. This has to date involved field surveys and literature reviews in respect to threatened species, Aboriginal sites, soils, catchment values and other relevant environmental factors.
On the basis of the environmental assessment and community feedback the NPWS will select one of the sites for further environmental assessment and detailed design of the track. This information will be compiled into a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) which will be placed on public exhibition for comment. The REF is expected to be placed on exhibition in May 2012.
The purpose of the REF is to determine whether the proposed track could be constructed and used without causing an unacceptable level of environmental impact. If it is concluded that this is feasible, the next step will be to amend the relevant reserve Plan of Management to make provision for the construction of such a track. Amendments to Plans of Management are subject to public exhibition and the approval of the Minister for Environment.
Throughout the period of the project, community consultation will occur in a number of ways, including:
- this website will be maintained throughout the life of the project providing updates
- media will occur sporadically throughout the project
- an advisory gorup has convened to guide the consultation and represent the interests of the community. The group has met on a number of occasions to conduct site visits for the proposed track locations. The group include:
Interested members of the public are encouraged to contact members who represent their interest should they have inquiries or feedback.
Email northernsydney.mtb@environment.nsw.gov.au for generic inquiries or feedback.
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Page last updated: 27 April 2012
