Notes from yesterday's meeting with Parks Vic
Meeting with Parks Victoria Rangers regarding mountain-biking in Plenty Gorge
24/11/2012 Ranger’s Office, South Morang
Present:
Barry Coombes, PV Ranger
Garry French, PV Regional Planner
Emerson Thistlethwaite, MTB Melbourne
Casper, local rider, also Smiths Gully MBC
Troy Bussell, Cycle House
Martin Boland, Dividing Ranges MBC (Lysterfield)
Sean Milligan, Super Cycle
Brendan Matthews, local rider
Dave & Judith Anton, local riders
Simon Giosserano, local rider
At the Ranger’s invitation we met to discuss opportunities for mountain-biking in Plenty Gorge Park. Garry French gave a presentation on the main issues of focus for Parks Victoria, and made reference to the Plenty Gorge Master Plan, which is available on the parkweb here:
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/313425/Plenty-Gorge-Parklands-Master-Plan-1994.pdf
Parks Victoria:
PV is responsible for environmental conservation and cultural heritage in the Park. There are several species of rare and endangered fauna and flora in the area, which must be preserved and carefully managed. There are also sites of cultural significance, including pre-contact Aboriginal settlements and later historical developments. These sites need to be protected as well.
Of course, a key concern is the safety of Park users.
PV & DSE are developing state-wide guidelines for MTB on public lands – and the process involves consultation with MTB advocacy groups including Yarra Ranges MBC – however until those guidelines are formalised, we need to negotiate locally with Rangers to agree on where MTB riding will occur in our local Parks. Garry French acknowledged that they are aware that this occurs already, and that a blanket ban simply will not work, either for MTB riders, or for PV. It seems to be that the state-wide guidelines will likely include the consultation process at each site, so our meeting with the Rangers is in line with the plan which is being made.
What PV proposes:
A draft MTB loop has been devised by the Rangers, which provides for a singletrack loop (including smaller loop options) on the part of the Park which is bounded by Oatlands Rd in the east, Blue Lake in the west, Memorial Drive to the north, and Valley View Ct to the south (and the private property which extends west from the end of Valley View Ct – that property which has the motocross track).
There is also a proposal to develop a shared-use trail along the pipeline easement which runs south-east from the reservoir tank, down to the corner of Valley View Ct and along McLaughlins Lane, meeting with the other easement along Sugar Gum Bvd, which is where the Plenty River Trail currently ends. This shared-use path would create a link between the existing bike path network and the picnic area at Yellow Gum Park, and it would be separate to the more natural singletrack favoured by adventurous MTB riders.
Also shown on the map is a proposed trail, pencilled in as “walkers only??”, which runs along the fire trail from the gate on Oatlands Rd (at the corner of Mackelroy Rd), up past the corner of the private property with the moto track, and then south/southwest down the spur. The old ‘alphabet track’ (marked with posts showing letters, A, B, C, etc) for walkers has taken that route in the past.
Garry suggested that there are opportunities for some small built structures, such as low board-walks and small bridges, to get across wet areas identified in the proposed loop – and we agreed that the best kind of trails are low-impact, sustainable, natural trails, with minimal man-made or obvious built structures. Of course, funding impacts heavily on what will be possible, but having riders appearing as a valid user group, with significant numbers, makes a difference to this.
Why?
One reason that this particular parcel of land was suggested as suitable for recreation is that it has all been cleared in the past, and there is no significant high-value conservation area there. Other parts of the Park do contain environmentally important, remnant, natural growth – but this part doesn’t present the same conflicts between conservation and recreation.
Costs:
Any trails or proposed trails will need to be assessed for impacts on sites of cultural and environmental significance. Such issues may not yet be known. There is considerable cost involved in assessing Aboriginal heritage values, and this will be a factor in completing any proposed works.
Costs of trail-building and maintenance are obviously of concern to PV. As MTB riders, we indicated that we could reasonably expect to run working bees and do our own maintenance as may be required, as has recently happened in the past at other sites, such as Panton Hill – and this would significantly reduce the costs to PV.
What about what’s there already?
In regard to the existing network of trails, the Ranger asked that we provide detailed maps of all those trails which currently get ridden – and that we strongly discourage the creation of any new trails for the time being. By providing a comprehensive list of trails in use, PV will be able to (eventually) assess each of those trails for feasibility. It is expected that not all of them will be viable – if there are environmental, cultural, conservation or safety concerns, those concerns will need to be properly addressed. If MTB riders show that we can abide by the rules of the Park, it is more likely that further facilities will be made available. If, on the other hand, closed trails continue to be ridden, it will not help our cause.
Crossing the Plenty River.
Any structure for crossing the river (be it a ford, a bridge, or anything else for the purpose) must meet stringent requirements of Melbourne Water – which include being a single-span bridge more than 300mm above the 100-year flood level. This basically rules out any structure being built across the Plenty between Gorge Rd and the old steel pipe bridge which crosses next to the Plenty River Trail near Lear Ct, off Corowa Cres. The existing fording points will not be improved or recommended, to my understanding. There is a possibility that the old pipe bridge may be used to create a shared-use crossing point, however the steep descent down the pipeline easement on its western side is of concern to PV. There was also some suggestion that another crossing point, over the creek which runs alongside the Plenty River Trail near Palpera Terrace, might be considered for an alternative entry point – however the Park terrain is very steep in that area, and this would require considerable investigation.
The South Side.
The trails on the southern side of the Plenty River, between Kariboo Grove and Janefield Drive, were noted by the Rangers as being predominantly very well-made and sustainable. It was also indicated that this area is already heavy in traffic, including MTB riders, walkers and runners, and that this traffic will only increase once the housing development around University Hill is completed. PV is constructing a shared-use trail between the eastern end of the development and Linacre Drive.
The fact that young riders often build jumps and cut new trails in the bush around this area is a known concern. We discussed ideas like creating an area for dirt jumps – the Ranger suggested originally that there would be room for something like this near the Yellow Gum picnic area, but given that most of its users would probably have no access to motor transport, or any desire to ride the distance to get there, this would be better placed near the Watsonia/Greensborough/Bundoora end of the Park.
What’s next?
The MTB riders will provide the PV Rangers with .gpx files, or other GPS data, showing where we currently ride. Also, a ‘wish list’ for the proposed MTB park area: what we want from it.
The MTB community will also promote the consultation process which has started, and strongly discourage people from creating any new trails, committing to honour any closures deemed necessary by PV.
PV Rangers will endeavour to assess all of those trails and advise what must be closed due to their concerns and responsibilities.
I will keep you all informed as things develop further.
Cheers,
Emerson
hone:, having a day job :ranger:, and with a very pregnant wife 