Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Project

National Parks and Wildlife Service has engaged Niche Environment and Heritage consultants to develop the draft review of environmental factors for the 25 km mountain bike network at Balgownie. Opportunities to comment closed on 29 May 2023.

Activities within National Parks and Wildlife Service reserves are assessed under Part 5 of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

A review of environmental factors must be approved before National Parks and Wildlife Service undertakes an activity on its land. We consider feedback received during the consultation, examine the significance of the proposal's cultural and environmental impacts, and detail measures required to mitigate adverse impacts.

The planning assessment includes an environmental and cultural heritage impact assessment that informs a review of environmental factors.

The Draft Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy was placed on public exhibition from 30 October 2018 to 21 December 2018. A total of 956 submissions were received from a broad range of stakeholders, including the NSW Government, non-government organisations and private individuals. Following feedback, the draft strategy was amended to reflect concerns about the cultural significance of Mount Keira.

National Parks and Wildlife Service and Wollongong City Council identified an alternative area to develop a mountain bike network between Mount Keira and Mount Kembla that provides an alternative to Mount Keira for mountain biking. National Parks and Wildlife Service is also committed to closing and rehabilitating mountain bike tracks on Mount Keira.

In December 2022, National Parks and Wildlife Service and council endorsed the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy. The strategy is the document that provides permissibility of mountain biking on the escarpment. The document outlines the project context, approval pathways and legislation, network extents, track closure and rehabilitation, accessibility, signage and the framework for an operation and management plan for mountain biking on the Illawarra Escarpment.

National Parks and Wildlife Service engaged Niche Environment and Heritage to prepare the review of environmental factors for the mountain bike network on national park land between Harry Graham Drive near O'Brien's Drift and Mount Kembla. The review of environmental factors for the networks at Mount Kembla and Balgownie have been prepared separately as they are not connected and are within different water catchments.

The draft review of environmental factors was exhibited for public comment from 20 June to 18 July 2022 and was finalised after reviewing the submissions. In November 2022, we submitted the final review of environmental factors for determination.

The review of environmental factors for the proposed mountain bike network between Harry Graham Drive near O'Brien's Drift and Mount Kembla has been determined and published along with the summary of submissions received.

• Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Project – Network 1, Mount Kembla: Review of environmental factors
• Submissions report: Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Project – Network 1, Mount Kembla draft review of environmental factors

Mount Keira holds cultural significance to the local Aboriginal community. The landforms of Djembla (Mount Kembla) and Djeera (Mount Keira) embody Ancestral Beings linked through the Dreaming stories. Mount Keira is the location of ceremonial and spiritual sites. We are working with the local Aboriginal community to plan for the removal of mountain bike tracks on Mount Keira.

National Parks and Wildlife Service have prepared a rehabilitation plan for Mount Keira and will progressively close and rehabilitate tracks.

Cooperation of the local mountain bike community is essential to support these closures and facilitate the new network's construction.

National Parks and Wildlife Service and Wollongong City Council have established the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Advisory Group. The group's purpose is to identify issues and opportunities, enable consistent collaboration with key stakeholders, provide a channel for community input, ensure project objectives are met, and ensure timely and effective information exchange between stakeholder organisations, the local community, National Parks and Wildlife Service and council.

Membership of the group reflects a broad range of business, risk and technical skills to provide advice on the planning assessment and strategy. The group includes the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council, Destination Wollongong, Destination Sydney Surround South, Office of Sport, WaterNSW, Sydney Water, Illawarra Escarpment Alliance, National Parks Association, Illawarra Mountain Bike Alliance, Trail Care and a community representative from the Mount Kembla and Balgownie area.

Aboriginal stakeholders are also represented in this group. We have engaged the Aboriginal community in the cultural heritage assessment of the proposed mountain bike networks at Mount Kembla and Balgownie. Consultation with the Aboriginal community is ongoing to ensure their views in planning and evaluation are considered in developing an appropriate and sustainable mountain bike track network on the Illawarra Escarpment.

National Parks and Wildlife Service engaged with adaptive riders to inform the Accessible Parks Policy and Cycling In Parks Policy. The track design at both Mount Kembla and Balgownie networks considered this feedback and is investigating the inclusion of adaptive track experiences.

National Parks and Wildlife Service and Wollongong City Council have held meetings and workshops with local community and riding representatives who provided feedback on the design of the proposed networks and supporting infrastructure.

The council will continue to engage with stakeholders to inform project planning, assessment and establishment of 'off park' infrastructure required to support the mountain bike track network, such as parking and amenities.

The Balgownie Mountain Bike Trail Network Project draft Review of Environmental Factors is on exhibition until 29 May 2023.

National Parks and Wildlife Service will review submissions received during the exhibition and make any amendments to the draft review of environmental factors before submitting for determination.

Final planning permits for the Mount Kembla mountain bike network are awaiting determination, with work expected to commence shortly afterwards.

We are progressing plans to close and rehabilitate unsanctioned tracks not included in the strategy's network, commencing with Mount Keira. Rehabilitation will be undertaken in a staged approach to remove structures, manage erosion, revegetation, and include signage and a monitoring program.

Will the mountain bike network include Mount Keira?

Mountain biking on Mount Keira is not appropriate, given the cultural significance, geological instability and high natural conservation values. We have identified a network south of Mount Keira to the Mount Kembla area as an alternative option to Mount Keira.

Managing the mountain bike track network

The National Parks and Wildlife Service will be responsible for ongoing management of the mountain bike track network.

We are also exploring options where mountain bike organisations, local businesses and riders can have involvement in track maintenance, including the participation of mountain bike clubs.

How is the network going to be sustainable?

The process of developing a sustainable mountain bike network considers the experience of riders and visitor safety, working with the natural and cultural features of the landscape to manage water run-off , minimise erosion, and protect and conserve the natural environment and cultural sites. It may be necessary to install features such as bridges, raised platforms, rock armouring and stonework in some areas, similar to walking track construction.

A well-designed and built mountain bike track network can reduce the ongoing cost and resources necessary for land managers to maintain a safe and enjoyable experience for riders.

The Cycling policy, Cycling strategy and Guidelines for implementation guide how we manage cycling experiences in our reserves and our approach to providing sustainable mountain bike tracks.

Making sure cyclists stay on the tracks

Responsible social behaviour will be promoted through signage, education and partnering with stakeholders representing mountain bike riders to develop a positive culture of doing the right thing. This will include signage and information on the Aboriginal cultural significance of the area.

What will happen to the existing tracks that are not proposed to be part of the mountain bike strategy?

Over time, all existing unauthorised mountain bike tracks that are not formalised into the mountain bike track network in the strategy will be closed and rehabilitated. The rehabilitation plan will provide detail on how this will be done.