Brisbane City Council Mountian Bike Review - Due December

[Viv92]

In December the Civic Cabinet of Brisbane City Council will be presented with a report about, and make a decision on, the future of mountain biking in the city. It will recommend whether to allow MTBs into other natural areas in the city.

We as mountain bikers have to rally and show the Brisbane City Council and more importantly the Lord Mayor and Councillors how big mountain biking is in the city.

Until now those in the environmental movement have been able to stop the expansion of mountain biking in the city. And they have been able to do it because they have been the only ones that have gotten in the ear of Lord Mayor and Councillors.

And the only way they have done this is when any issue about mountain biking comes up they start a campaign of letter and email writing to the Lord Mayor and Councillors.

By doing this they have made themselves to appear much larger in number and with much more support than they really have.

Recently the mountain biking community showed they could do this as well when the Southern Star conducted an online poll. 3 to 1 this poll found the people would like to see mountain bikers have access to natural areas in a sustainable way.

Now with the decision to be made on this report it is our time to start a campaign of letter an email writing to show the Lord Mayor and Councillor of Brisbane just how popular mountain biking is.

At the bottom of this post are all the email address of all Councillors and the Lord Mayor.
Councillors that make up Civic Cabinet and will be making this initial decision have an * beside them.

But then all councillors will vote on it.

Either email them each personally addressed or blind CC all the Councillors your thoughts.

Make sure you always email the Lord Mayor separately though.

Things to talk about that will influence their decisions are:
• The popularity of MTB, its future growth and need for expansion.
• Mountain biking is nature based and instils respect for the environment
• How through sustainable track care MTB have very little impact on the environment.
• Mountain bikers enjoy looking after the trails they love to ride
• How many track care groups there are around SEQ.
• How we don’t want to destroy what we came to enjoy.
• Trail care is just like the many bush care groups around the traps
• Having sustainable trail care is a winner for the environment, forest management and mountain biking.

And any other personal things you might want to add.

We each have to write our own views because if a standard letter or email is sent from lots of people they will not be taken seriously.

Also if some of you feel really passionate about it go in and address full council (just think the parliament of Brisbane City Council). Any resident can address council for 5 mins on any topic they want to. And if 5 people want to address council on one day about mountain biking they can.

Below is the link to the BCC website with info on addressing council.

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:954605567:pc=PC_11
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:954605567:pc=PC_8
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/bccwr/forms/documents/cc36_application_to_address-council.pdf

I understand the Councillors that make this decision are open to options; they just need the show of public support to allow them to make the right decision.

If we don’t give it then they will follow the only public influence they have received, that of the environmental groups.

Let your friends know so they can write and email also.

Over to you...


Email addresses

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman* - Lord.mayor@brisbane.qld.gov.au
Cr Amanda Cooper* - brackenridge.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr David Hinchliffe - central.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Adrian Schrinner* - chandler.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Victoria Newton - deagon.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr John Campbell - doboy.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Andrew Wines - enoggera.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr David McLachlan* - hamilton.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Ian McKenzie hollandpark.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Matthew Bourke - jamboree.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Gail MacPherson - karawatha.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Graham Quirk* - macgregor.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Fiona King - marchant.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Norm Wyndham - mcdowall.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Steve Griffiths - moorooka.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Shane Sutton - morningside.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Kim Flesser - northgate.ward@ecn.net.au
CE Angela Owen-Taylor - parkinson.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Margaret de Wit - pullenvale.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Milton d*** - richlands.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Nicole Johnston - tennyson.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Helen Abrahams - thegabba.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Geraldine Knapp* - thegap.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Peter Matic* - toowong.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Jane Prentice* - waltertaylor.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Krista Adams - wishart.ward@ecn.net.au
Cr Peter Cummings - wynnummanly.ward@ecn.net.au

I quoted this from another site. Is very important in terms of securing some legal riding areas in the next few years. I doubt we will get another chance like this any time soon.

Cheers,

Viv.

More stuff:


Councillors told me that personal letters and emails count. A form letter or email from many people, which says the same thing, counts only as one submission.

I think issues in each correspondence are tallied. The points you make are noted.

We need to write to Civic Cabinet - they make the final decisions. See the list above with a *
We need to write to councillors in wards where we want to ride.

Brisbane Koala Bushland (adjoins Daisy to the north) Councillor Adrian Schrinner - Chandler.ward
Karawatha Councillor Gail MacPherson (Labor though) - karawatha.ward@ecn.net.au
Toohey Area - several councillors. Let's target Councillor Krista Adams wishart.ward@ecn.net.au

Anywhere else you ride? Chermside Hills, Whites Hill

Some Points
BCC policy on MTB management needed.
Access to all fire roads - a given
Assessment of areas that are suitable, including conservation/bushland reserves
The Bushland Acquisition levy should be used to provide facilities/trails in the acquired bushland . At the moment BCC basically puts a fence around it and does up the fire roads for fire management. Access is not encouraged.
Recreation and conservation are possible in the same bushland.

Trail Care is like Bush Care. Trail Care leads to sustainable trails for mountain biking (and shared with walkers, runners etc)
Best practice trail design and construction occurs at Gap Creek. Come and have a look, or better still, ride there.

Cycling is popular - 29% of SEQ residents bicycle ride in natural settings each year.
Natural surface trails need to be close to where people live - bushland at their back door.
Everyone can cycle to the park. No cars, no fuel, no carbon emissions, you don't need a car licence, children can ride there, schools can use the trails for health & PE.

Competition in parks
Short tracks can be used for short XC events that everyone can do. A B C D classes. Beginners, kids, experts - just go at different speeds.

[big dan]

Write letters now, get your parents to write letters, make them clear, make them intelligent. Time to show the council that the greenies do not speak for the majority.

[rsteven]

I sent this to Lord Mayor and Councillors:

Dear Lord Mayor,

I am writing this email to highlight some very important points about mountain biking in and around Brisbane to make both my voice and the collective voice of the thousands of keen mountain bikers heard before the Civic Cabinet of Brisbane City Council is presented with a report about future of mountain biking in the city.

I believe this report is being presented in December 2008 and will recommend whether to allow mountain bikers into other natural areas in the city.

Mountain biking is a healthy and environmentally sound sport and recreation option with 29% of SEQ residents bicycle ride in natural settings each year.

Everyone should have ready access to mountain biking and it's benefits. Natural surface trails need to be close to where people live - bushland at their back door etc to ensure accessibility to the sport is a wide as possible, children can ride there, and schools can use the trails for health & PE. This can only serve to help fight the growing obesity problem we are currently facing in Australia. Thus I call for the expansion of the managed trail networks in and around Brisbane.

Further to the traditional bushland trails I would urge BCC to consider investment in more specialist mountain biking areas where young people can learn and train in some of more specialised disciplines such as downhill, trails, freeride and cross country. These areas could also serve as competition locations helping to grow the sport. A "Mountain Bike Park" in Brisbane would be a fantastic asset as enjoyed by the other major cities in Australia e.g. Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns to name a few...

Examples:
http://www.imba.com/resources/science/impact_summary.html
http://www.mountainbike.co.nz/politics/doc/impacts/summary.htm

Mountain biking is nature based and instils respect for the environment

A huge part of mountain biking culture across all disciplines is a desire to care for the environment in which we live and ride. Through sustainable track care mountain bikers have very little impact on the environment; in fact in most mountain biking has the same or less impact than walkers. Please take some time to review some solid evidence about mountain biking and the environment.

http://www.imba.com/resources/science/impact_summary.html
http://www.mountainbike.co.nz/politics/doc/impacts/summary.htm

In addition the camaraderie and culture of mountain biking in South East Queensland has led to the formation of many track care groups where mountain bikers directly look after the trails they love to ride. Counter to some misinformed environmental stereotypes mountain bikers enjoy looking after the trails they love to ride and under no circumstances do we want to destroy what we love. Trail care is very similar to bush care and leads to sustainable trails for mountain biking that can be shared with walkers, runners etc. Gap Creek is a good example of best practice trail design and construction occurs and I would urge you to come and have a look or ride there and experience it for yourself (if you have not already).

Having sustainable trail care is a winner for the environment, forest management and mountain biking.

I urge that mountain biking is given fair consideration and receives time and investment from BCC to help the sport develop further. You never know the next Olympic mountain biker may come from Brisbane!


http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/disciplines_uk.asp?DiscCode=CM

If you have any questions or feedback please let me know.

Also would it be helpful if I started a petition for the “Advancement of Mountain Biking in SEQ” or similar? Would that be considered?

[rsteven]

admin can you remove this post please?

[rsteven]

admin can you remove this post please?

[Viv92]

I sent this to Lord Mayor and Councillors:
Also would it be helpful if I started a petition for the “Advancement of Mountain Biking in SEQ” or similar? Would that be considered?

I'm not too sure. E-mail gillian_duncan@hotmail.com about that.

It'd be good if the farkin community could get involved in this more. There were 20-ish letters from a much smaller local forum.

[Rhys_]

I think you'll find people have sent letters, but not posted it up or mentioned it here...I sent one a while back

[rsteven]

Cool I just posted to give some others encouragement and perhaps some extra ideas about what to write. I will email Gillian as I would like to get involved in some of this :)

[RYDA]

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[cressa]

Well i have contributed and gee, it makes me feel good!

[rsteven]

I received this letter from the Lord Mayor this morning:

Dear Mr Steven

Thank you for your email of 24 December 2008 regarding Mountain Biking in Brisbane and your position on this matter.

I am pleased to advise that in late January 2009, Council will be opening an on-line survey seeking public input on the topic of Mountain Biking in Brisbane. This survey, which will be open until late March 2009, will then shape Council’s revised policy on this subject.

All stakeholder groups and members of the broader community will be advised of this survey through direct mail and media announcements. I would encourage you to participate in this wide ranging review. In anticipation of the review, I have already passed your letter to the appropriate Council officers for their consideration.

This consultation process will be an important part of our decision making and I encourage you to provide input into the review.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns. I can assure you that my administration is committed to working with the community to provide facilities appropriate to all residents in Brisbane.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy and safe Christmas and a prosperous New Year.



Yours sincerely


Campbell Newman

LORD MAYOR

[cressa]

^^^^^ Yep I got one as well. Mine was worded exactly the same but from Cr Peter Matic.

We'll have to make a a lot of noise when the time comes. MTB power!!!!