Wollongong Mountain Bike Park

[GRIM]

Has anyone heard much about the proposed Wollongong Mountain Bike Park. It would be really great if it goes ahead but I'm a bit sceptical as s far these been lots of track closures in Wollongong but very few new ones.

[dilemma]

This is a media release which was released last week to local media in Wollongong:

Regional Mountain Bike Park for Wollongong

Local mountain bikers have rallied to call for a Regional Mountain Bike Park to be established in the Illawarra. Community group Ride Illawarra has taken the lead role promoting a community park for eco-friendly mountain biking.

Ride Illawarra spokesperson Mr John Kopetko said “The Illawarra currently has two National mountain bike champions and two State champions with mountain biking being a recognised Olympic sport.” “Yet there is no legal place for them to locally train and compete.”

Children, youths to over 50s, couples and whole families enjoy the popular recreational activity of mountain bike riding on the Illawarra Escarpment as a way to keep fit and healthy and to socialize with others. With obesity now a National problem of endemic proportions, mountain biking has particularly come to the fore as a means to replace young peoples sedentary after school activities with an appealing and energetic recreational pursuit.

Ride Illawarra claims there is already widespread community support for mountain biking on the escarpment and local riders are genuinely concerned about the adverse impacts of uncontrolled biking on the natural environment. Mr Kopetko asserted “Sustainable mountain bike activity into the future requires positive and urgent action now”

Ride Illawarra is proposing the regional park be situated on degraded escarpment lands which can be restored back to a natural state through a program of weed removal, re-vegetation and bush regeneration. “The park where situated ought to pay great dividends for the escarpment’s natural environment and ecology being a showcase example of what can be done to responsibly look after one of our regions greatest assets” said Mr Kopetko “At the same time as helping to build a strong healthy community”.

Ride Illawarra is keen to gather further feedback, comment and support for the proposed Park and, is also seeking expressions of interest for community representative positions on a special working group being set up to assess potentially suitable areas on the escarpment where the Regional Park can be located.



See also http://forums.farkin.net/showthread.php?p=347466#post347466
if you are in the wollongong area

[roostn247]

We might have to rock up & find out whats the go..

Theres a heap of places we could get our hands on along the escarpment but we wont get anything unless we dont all get some good support & rally together, which John Kopetko is trying to organise...

See you all there!

[GRIM]

Has anyone gone to the meeting or know what went on. It would be cool if this thing goes ahead!

[sammydog]

It would be cool if this thing goes ahead!

Why not contact the people involved and see if there is anything (no matter how small) you can do to help. At the very least you'll find out first hand what is going on.

[Jordy]

Has anyone gone to the meeting or know what went on. It would be cool if this thing goes ahead!

aren't you Grimo ? I thought I saw you there....

their will be a bit of a Report to come about the meeting

[kona_crew01]

Sounds fantastic ride illawarra have done a lot of work hopefully we can get more support and funding and then it'll go ahead soon JUMP ON THE BAND WAGON IT"LL BENIFIT YOU!!!!