Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Project

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.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) 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. NPWS is also committed to closing and rehabilitating mountain bike tracks on Mount Keira.

In December 2022, NPWS 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.

Prior to NPWS undertaking an activity such as establishing the Mount Kembla and Balgownie mountain bike networks on its land, a review of environmental factors must be prepared and approved under Part 5 of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The reviews of environmental factors for the networks at Mount Kembla and Balgownie have been prepared separately as they are geographically distinct areas.

The planning assessment includes:

• environmental and cultural heritage impact assessment
• consideration of feedback received during consultation
• examination of the measures required to mitigate adverse impacts.

The review of environmental factors documents the potential environmental impacts of the mountain bike networks to be established at Mount Kembla and Balgownie, and provides management strategies to minimise impacts. These documents will underpin construction and the ongoing management of these park visitor experiences.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) have engaged Synergy Trails to commence works on the first stage of the Mount Kembla network. Before starting work on each section of trail, the alignment is 'ground truthed' (verified in person) by NPWS, Synergy Trails and ecologists to ensure compliance with the environmental assessment.

The review of environmental factors for the proposed mountain bike network at Mount Kembla was exhibited for public comment from 20 June to 18 July 2022. It was finalised after reviewing the submissions and determined in January 2023. For more information, please see:

• 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

The draft review of environmental factors for the proposed 25 km mountain bike network at Balgownie was exhibited for public comment from 1 to 29 May 2023 and is being finalised. Please see:

• Balgownie Mountain Bike Track Network 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 Dreaming stories. Mount Keira is the location of ceremonial and spiritual sites. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is working with the local Aboriginal community to plan for the removal of any mountain bike tracks on Mount Keira that are not included in the Illawarra escarpment mountain bike strategy.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service have prepared a rehabilitation plan and will progressively close and rehabilitate unsanctioned tracks.

Cooperation of the local mountain bike community is essential to support these closures and facilitate uptake of the new networks.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) 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, NPWS and council.

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

Aboriginal stakeholders are represented in the advisory group and have been engaged 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 are considered in developing an appropriate and sustainable mountain bike track network on the Illawarra escarpment.

NPWS has included adaptive track experiences in the design for both Mount Kembla and Balgownie networks where suitable. Adaptive track inclusions have been informed by the Accessible parks and Cycling policies, engagement with Wollongong Council staff who have expertise in accessibility, and track building contractors Synergy Trails, who have been working with adaptive riders onsite to better understand design and construction needs. 

NPWS and Wollongong City Council have held meetings and workshops with local community and riding representatives at both Mount Kembla and Balgownie 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.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service will be working with Synergy Trails to construct the first stage of the mountain bike network at Mount Kembla.

Works will commence on the Balgownie network, following completion of planning approvals including determination of the review of environmental factors. This work will include the closure of unsafe jumps and tracks.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service are also progressing plans to close and rehabilitate unsanctioned tracks not included in the strategy's network. Rehabilitation will be completed in a staged approach and will include the removal of structures, erosion management, revegetation, 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. An alternative location has been identified at Mount Kembla, to the west of the Wollongong suburbs of Figtree and Cordeaux Heights and south-west of Mount Keira.

Managing the mountain bike track network

NSW 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 be involved 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, just as we would when constructing safe walking tracks.

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 NSW cycling strategy: guidelines for implementation inform 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. We aim to develop a positive culture of doing the right thing. Signage will include 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.