The Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy recognises the wellbeing, social and economic value of mountain biking and the need to balance trail closures with opportunities for riding in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area.
The Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area is located near Wollongong in an important natural landscape, rich in environmental, Aboriginal cultural and historical significance. Unauthorised trails are impacting the park’s natural and cultural values and are a safety risk.
National Parks and Wildlife Service are delivering a $13.4 million, 70-kilometre Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Network in the state conservation area as a sustainable alternative to unauthorised trails. Once closed, we will rehabilitate unauthorised trails in the state conservation area and direct riders to the authorised trail network.
Actions under the plan
We will start closing and rehabilitating unauthorised trails in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area, in line with commitments in the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy. The trail closure and rehabilitation program is prioritised by ecological, cultural and public safety criteria.
The next step in this program will be the closure and rehabilitation of around 12 kilometres of unauthorised trails in the Mount Keira area from June 2026. The trails will be rehabilitated in stages, improving environmental outcomes and public safety.
Following the closure of unauthorised trails in the Mount Keira area, we will address the closure and rehabilitation of other unauthorised trails in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area. This process will advance alongside the development and opening of new stages of the network.
Nearly 20 kilometres of designated single trail riding have recently opened as part of the Kembla mountain bike trails Stage 1. A further 50 kilometres is proposed for delivery in 2027, providing a sustainable 70 kilometre network for all ages and levels of riders, while safeguarding the region’s natural values.
Changes at unauthorised trails
During the rehabilitation works, visitors will see:
- signage at all unsanctioned trails to notify of closure and rehabilitation activities
- trails that may have been used previously that are blocked or obscured to support rehabilitation works
- national parks staff and contractors near unauthorised trails while rehabilitation works occur.
We remind people to ride on open, authorised trails only. Parts of the approved network are open at the Kembla mountain bike trails.
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Unauthorised trails within the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area:
- impact the environmental and cultural values of the reserve
- impact Aboriginal cultural sites or heritage areas
- are a safety risk to riders as most do not meet appropriate trail construction and safety standards.
Closure and rehabilitation of unauthorised trails will reduce these impacts and risks and support sustainable recreation by encouraging use of planned, approved and maintained trails.
Impacts on natural and cultural values
National Parks and Wildlife Service has a statutory obligation to conserve natural and cultural values of the state conservation area.
Unauthorised trails on the escarpment can cause erosion and soil compaction, and fragment vegetation. This can harm sensitive and threatened species and ecosystems due to habitat loss, reduced water quality, changes in plant community structure and the spread of pests and weeds.
The closure of the unauthorised trails aims to prevent further degradation and provide the opportunity for the areas to recover.
Safety risks
Unauthorised trails have been built and maintained without planning approval and often without considering safety standards, creating risks for riders and emergency responders.
The new network provides carefully crafted trails that are in line with international mountain bike trail standards.
Building, maintaining or riding on unauthorised trails in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area is prohibited. As part of the rehabilitation, closed trails are being signposted, and an education program will be rolled out to direct riders to approved alternatives across the state conservation area.
Ongoing monitoring and compliance will be introduced, targeting the use and construction of unauthorised trails.
Impacts on cultural and heritage values
Unauthorised trails have been built without considering Aboriginal cultural and heritage values.
The selection and assessment of trail alignments for the authorised network were based on special consideration for areas of Aboriginal cultural value.
Closure and rehabilitation of unauthorised trails:
- avoids damage to Aboriginal cultural sites or heritage areas
- ensures culturally sensitive areas are respected and managed appropriately.
As part of the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy, unauthorised mountain bike trails in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area were assessed for inclusion in the approved network.
Trails not considered suitable were identified for closure and rehabilitation under the strategy.
We will close and rehabilitate trails in stages. The stages will be ordered:
- according to environmental and cultural impacts
- in line with the roll out of the approved network
- to support the mountain bike community to transition to the approved trails.
The unauthorised trails that were included in the authorised Kembla mountain bike trails have been upgraded to ensure they meet the International Mountain Bicycling Association trail standards. The upgrades include ensuring minimal impact on park values and ecological and maintenance sustainability, while providing rider experience opportunities.
Unauthorised trails will be closed and rehabilitated in stages over the next 2 to 3 years.
Work is scheduled to commence from June 2026.
Stage 1 – completed
Unauthorised trails in the Mount Kembla area that were not formalised as part of the Kembla mountain bike trails have been closed and rehabilitated. This includes soil protection works, erosion control and revegetation.
Stage 2
Work will commence on the closure and rehabilitation of unauthorised trails in the Mount Keira area of the the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area from June 2026 and is expected to be completed in 2028.
The unauthorised trails have been prioritised into defined work zones so that works can be delivered in a timely and coordinated way. The priority zones for closure and rehabilitation are only on lands managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
These priority zones may be adjusted as the project progresses.
Stage 3
After completing priority closure and rehabilitation works in the Mount Keira area, we will gradually close remaining unauthorised trails in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area that are not included in the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy.
Mountain bike riding is only permitted on approved trails in the state conservation area.
The Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Network is being developed to provide approved, sustainable riding opportunities in the Illawarra Escarpment State Conservation Area.
The 20 km Kembla mountain bike trails opened in September 2025, with Balgownie mountain bike trails and Kembla mountain bike trails Stage 2 expected to be completed in 2027.
More information about the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Network can be found on the National Parks and Wildlife Service Kembla mountain bike trails webpage.
The rehabilitation work for unauthorised trails was guided by independent environmental and expert assessment. The plan outlines a structured and ecologically sensitive approach to restoring impacted areas and may include the following elements.
Barriers and signs
- High-visibility barriers, either natural (e.g. large fallen logs, boulders) or artificial installed at the trail entrances
- Informative signage will clearly communicate trail closures, and penalties for unauthorised access
Removal of structures
- Removal of constructed features, including ramps, jumps and bridges
- Levelling of soil and removal of soil features such as benching and berms
- Removal of rock features and installed drainage
Soil stabilisation and erosion control
Sedimentation and soil management, including the installation of brush matting, placement of coir logs and artificial sediment fencing (if required).
Assisted natural regeneration
- Closure and weed removal, to allow natural revegetation processes to occur.
- Ongoing maintenance
Active regeneration
- Site-specific planting of endemic species
- Use of locally sourced seeds or tube stock, mulch or compost
Closure and rehabilitation work will support protection of the significant Aboriginal cultural values of the escarpment area.
An Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment has been completed for the rehabilitation activities, and works will be completed in line with this assessment.
National Parks and Wildlife Service is committed to working with the Aboriginal community to deliver the project.
The first stage of closures will occur on Mount Kiera (Djeera), which holds deep cultural and spiritual importance for Dharawal people and other First Nations communities.
The progressive closure and rehabilitation of unauthorised trails is a priority of the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy.
Unauthorised trail rehabilitation is one component of the National Parks and Wildlife Service’s broader land management program, which includes fire, pest and weed management and the protection of cultural and natural values. These programs continue to be resourced and delivered across the park, alongside the work being undertaken on unauthorised trail closures.
Contact us
Illawarra Highlands Area, National Parks and Wildlife Service
Phone: 02 4224 4188
Email: [email protected]