El Cyc, Glenrock Page

Here is a link to a Map and what they would like to change. Here is the thread on Glenrock Trail Alliance, about the Plan of Management (P.O.M.) and what they have Proposed. To save you reading it, here it is:

Revised Map Comments

Trails that have received negative feedback from NPWS are now marked in green.

Possible alternative proposals are marked in yellow.

Areas suggested by NPWS for consideration for alternatives are shaded in yellow.

We are being asked to consider using the power line easements for use as mountain bike specific trails. Energy Australia has indicated that they are open to this idea in principal. It is being suggested that perhaps we can create purpose built trails on these areas, we are being asked for a proposal to submit to Energy Australia outlining our requirements.

In order to avoid the problem of trails on the easement being “slashed” by Energy Australia part of this proposal would be that while we use these trails we would keep the trail area cleared ourselves as part of our maintenance.

It is being stressed that these trails in no way substitute for lost single-track but could be used to provide some downhill style riding and complement the trail system.

On initial inspection three areas show some potential as to some natural features, slope and location.

Shown on the map at ‘A’ is the easement that begins on the corner of Scenic drive and the highway. This area doesn’t have a lot in the way of natural features but does cross the single-track trail and may provide some link to other trails.

Shown on the map at ‘B’ is the easement that runs north from the gun Club rd. and down between ‘Twisties ‘n’ Dip and the small quarries. This area shows a lot of potential in that it has suitable pitch, many natural features, proximity to the quarries and other trails and is also wide enough that the access road can be avoided for most of its length. This area is only separated from area ‘A’ by a small creek soak at the very bottom of the valley, possible location for some sort of bridge feature.

Shown on the map at ‘C’ is the easement area that starts on the Gun Club rd. opposite ‘B’ and runs to the south. This area has very little in the way of natural features but is wide enough to have switchbacks created within its limits and with the threat of loosing the old DH trails this may be one of the few remaining trails to link the GC rd. to the lower trails on the southern side so is worth considering

Also shown on the map at ‘G’ is the easement that runs up the Gun Club hill from the treatment works. This one we used to call “phobias” which best summed up a riders attitude when confronted with riding down the steep, narrow, loose gravel track. I never felt any better coming up. NPWS have recently reconditioned this for vehicle access, and a lot of the ruts are gone, but the area is too narrow to support anything other than a straight line trail within its width. There are some variations near the bottom that could be looked at.

NPWS are also suggesting that we try to find alternatives for the “problem” areas from their feedback comments, as shown on the map in green. The areas they have indicated that may have less perceived problems are shown on the map in yellow shading.

There are also some more obvious, existing, alternate trails shown in yellow.

At ‘1’ is the trail out onto Scenic drive, this short-cuts the “Seuss Land” area.

At ‘2’ is the easy trail up to Gun Club rd. that comes out opposite where “Jumping the Gun” nears the road and is needed to connect the lower trails, especially if some other trails are lost.

At ‘3’ is the existing trail that runs from 50/50(creek gap) up to the top of the big quarry, this would mean these were no longer a DH area but might retain some of the single-track without the problems of going lower down, the lower trails would still have to close.

At ‘4’ is a short trail which avoids the coastal heath area, which NPWS want to protect and re-generate.

A change is also shown on “Cliffhanger”, which involves just using “Blackboy” instead.

About the yellow shaded areas;

With the pending closure of the DH it is proposed that suitable replacement trail could be created in the “pre-disturbed area” of the Bailey’s Landfill, below the small quarries, this is shown on the map at ‘D’. NPWS have not ruled out this option and there is certainly enough natural features and pitch available.

In the areas of “Seuss Land” and the “Shaft” trail we have been asked to investigate possible alternatives lower down, nearer to the treatment works in the areas shown as ‘E’ and ‘F’. If some connection was found in this area we could perhaps retain some extra single-track in this part of the reserve.

These are all just possible solutions and feedback is needed to achieve the best proposal.

From: Guihot, Reece MR

Hi Mark,

I hope the info here helps.

I have attached a Word doc with suggestions and points against each of the proposed trails targeted for closure.

I have also attached a Document on liability (1mb) - the document mentioned above outlines its usefulness.

Reece Guihot e-mailed me with this:

"Your request prompted me to get off my ar$e and post up those notes from the IMBA conference that are relevant here (Ecosystems and Partnering for Conservation). You will find them in my Trails Resource Library off my main home page. The conservation partnership is not yet fully done - I have more notes to type up but hope to get them done by the end of the week. To get to the notes just scroll down until you get to the "My MTB Pages" section and the one you are after is the last of the 4 links."

"One thing I have also found useful is to develop a trails maintenance resume. If the Glenrock Alliance have photographic evidence of 'before and after' trails then post them up and send the links to the land managers as proof of the work you can do and the wonders that MTB clubs can do on trails that were built crap and were destined for a short life even without MTB intervention. I am developing one for CORC which is currently hosted on my site via the link preceding the Trails Library."

"Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance."

Cheers.

Reece

Save Glenrock!