View Full Version : Mt Kembla trails demolished
Reubs
14-11-2006, 08:12 AM
Yep, its true. Unfortunately the land owners (dendrobium mine) have taken their anti-mtb campaign to a new level and have removed (ie. pulled down and taken away without a trace) all ladder bridges, jumps and anything remotely fun from the trails. The trails are still rideable at this stage but not through a lack of trying on their behalf (bunting everywhere...)
That sucks.
scratchy
14-11-2006, 08:23 AM
So they are illegal trails and the landowner is "Anti-MTBing" because you've build NS on their property??
At least you still have trails you can access there. It sounds like the landowner was getting spooked about man made structures on their property. This is the same everywhere else in Australia and it's not Anti-MTBing, it's "Anti-Getting-Sued".
They're just covering there asses. Building stunts often forces the issue. Landowners can turn a blind eye to trails but as soon as building starts to occur the landowner knows that they are liable under their duty of care.
Still sucks though...
Turner_rider
14-11-2006, 11:38 AM
Ok it sucks that you've lost something you enjoyed riding and may have put time into building, BUT
Seriously what were you expecting?
Why not work with the landowner and determine a workable solution before you loose all riding in that particular area??:rolleyes:
Landowners are not evil (most are really proactive) you just have to work within agreed limits and if that mean no jumps or structures then so bit it. A dirt trail is better than no trail.
land owner....smand owner.
Lived in kembla for 18years and those tracks were older than me.
There are as much a part of kembla as that dandrobian mine!!
They are fighting with fire and they will get burnt!
I agree with Epic, I grew up a few klicks away and those trails have been their since at least since 1990, my dad even said they had a major downhill event their back when they were all riding rigid bikes.
I would like to know if they own the whole area, I thought it would be only the start of the trail and the rest would be under someone else?
Gronk
14-11-2006, 12:38 PM
So can you still ride 'em without the NS stuff?? Is it only K2 they destroyed? Drift doesn't have any builds does it? So maybe it's still rideable???
The mine has no right to destroy they dont even own a third of the property that the trails are built on! Its conservation area that the LOCAL PEOPLE from the village have worked on to enhance the area.... when i was a grommet we used to go up and plant trees for school and stuff, none of this mine crap. As for the locals, they have known the tracks there for the past however many years and i highly doubt that they start hating them now! Not to mention there children growing up riding them.
iscarrr
14-11-2006, 12:53 PM
I havent been up there for a few years, i mainly stick to keira and bulli (theyre closer to me), but do they even have like private property keep out signs?
And yeah from memory the trail im thinking off starts near some buildings but finished well away from the mine, down near the moto track? (i might be way off here but thats how i remember it).
Turner_rider
14-11-2006, 01:28 PM
Ok I don't know the area or its history but building jumps or structures without the landowner or land managers consent is always bad news and a lot of the time results in reduced or no access.
Unless its your own private land its best to go by the simple rule of riding the trails as they are and not modifying to suit your peronal taste or riding style.
scratchy
14-11-2006, 09:15 PM
The mine has no right to destroy they dont even own a third of the property that the trails are built on! Its conservation area that the LOCAL PEOPLE from the village have worked on to enhance the area....
So what right does the MTBing community have to build:
ladder bridges, jumps and anything remotely fun from the trails.?
It's conservation area remember? You've still got access to the trails and it appear without knowing the local situation that the construction of Shore has brought the situation to a head where a equitable equilibrium had been established before. This is exactly why so many trail advocates are opposed to illegal NS.
I think it would help if we steer away from North Shore Builds. If you can just build more dirt type structures it could stop this type of situation from happening. Around Sutherland Shire they have been mainly onlu building Shore stuff if its a secret track or the landowners are cool. I know its not fair but it would protect our riding areas.
yeh if u want ur own trails its best on ur own property cus then no pricks can ruin them
spartan_s
15-11-2006, 08:43 PM
sad to hear ruebs, you were going to take me up there. stupid operation has robbed me of riding time. catch up o the other trails i guess,,
and yes those trails have been there forever,it they have caused no problems, so i dont see why they could not have just left them.....fun police are infiltrating everything these days. soon we wont be able to drive down the wrong side of the street with fireworks shooting out the window, drunk and on the phone.. dang
wollongDHrider
17-10-2007, 06:19 PM
I loved Drift and k they were easily the best tracks in the illawarra by far, they shouldnt have destryoed them, because they were so good
dhdave199
17-10-2007, 06:30 PM
By the way do rangers have any right to stop riders going on dendrobium land?
because i was riding up there once and we were just unloading the bikes from the trailer when a ranger stopped by and stopped us. we where 2 meters away from an 11 thousand dollar fine (apparently).
MasterOfReality
18-10-2007, 03:31 PM
Hang on, whats this crap about the trails being there longer than Dendrobium or more of a part of Mt Kembla than Dendrobium?
The Dendrobium mine uses the old Nebo Colliery pit top (which was also BHP owned), which I believe has been around much longer than those tracks!
Dozer
18-10-2007, 05:18 PM
yeh if u want ur own trails its best on ur own property cus then no pricks can ruin them
Did you read the bit in the rules area where it says no SMS slang on this site? Obviously not...........Please make an effort to use your entire keyboard, we aren't charging you 25c each time you post so you are actually allowed to write the words in full.
It sounds to me like the Wollongong DH scene is a thing of the past. Is there any legal DH tracks down there?
trolleyed
18-10-2007, 05:38 PM
It sounds to me like the Wollongong DH scene is a thing of the past. Is there any legal DH tracks down there?
No.
The DH scene is getting bigger and bigger...
Regan of Gong
18-10-2007, 05:52 PM
It sounds to me like the Wollongong DH scene is a thing of the past. Is there any legal DH tracks down there?
No and never. I don't work in a shop, but it's getting bigger if kids on stp's are any indication.
tallongdownhill
18-10-2007, 06:30 PM
yeh if u want ur own trails its best on ur own property cus then no pricks can ruin them
yes it's true but that brings it's own problems with people always wanting to ride my own track.
Dozer
18-10-2007, 07:08 PM
No.
The DH scene is getting bigger and bigger...
No and never. I don't work in a shop, but it's getting bigger if kids on stp's are any indication.
Right, so this is going along the lines of the typical Wollongong thing where no one wants to talk about the DH scene there because another illegal traill get shut down?
Tell me some legal DH trails in the area (via PM if need be) to put my mind at rest because right now I'm convinced that every second DH rider down there is chucking a mental because their beloved illegal trails have been pulled apart.
I know about a few trails in the area but I don't know which ones are legal and illegal. I am interested to know what is available.
MasterOfReality
18-10-2007, 07:11 PM
Right, so this is going along the lines of the typical Wollongong thing where no one wants to talk about the DH scene there because another illegal traill get shut down?
Tell me some legal DH trails in the area (via PM if need be) to put my mind at rest because right now I'm convinced that every second DH rider down there is chucking a mental because their beloved illegal trails have been pulled apart.
I know about a few trails in the area but I don't know which ones are legal and illegal. I am interested to know what is available.
You are basically on the money there.
As far as I know there are no legal DH trails on the escarpment.
October26
18-10-2007, 07:19 PM
Yep, its true. Unfortunately the land owners (dendrobium mine) have taken their anti-mtb campaign to a new level and have removed (ie. pulled down and taken away without a trace) all ladder bridges, jumps and anything remotely fun from the trails. The trails are still rideable at this stage but not through a lack of trying on their behalf (bunting everywhere...)
That sucks.
Yes all BHP's fault. No doubt they started the Dendrobium mine just so they could eventually remove the trails.
It's a big company why don't you try and sue them?
Oh wait, thats why they do things like that because dull minded fools in our society hurt themselves and then sue others (Like land owners) because they cant take responsibility for their own actions.
McPete
18-10-2007, 08:41 PM
I understand there are some other trails up at Austinmere, but beyond that I have no idea as to their exact location and legality. I do know my cousin was up there at one stage, training for the WC, so I'd hope it's right.
There are a huge number of trails around the possum jumps. So far as I know, there's only once been a bulldozer through there and that was a long time ago.
It's a real shame there are no real legal trails in the Illawarra, and because of all these reports of clampdowns on the trails, I'm thinking I might just be riding my road bike for a while until this dies down a bit.
No sense copping a huge fine or criminal prosecutions for the sake of one run on a trail.
I don't know if it's been tried here, but lobbying the council for a place for DHers, DJers and other assorted mountain bikers to ride might be a worthwhile endevour, although I think half the fun of these illegal trails may be the fact that people can just go and carve their own trails up the bush.
Maris
18-10-2007, 09:06 PM
Right, so this is going along the lines of the typical Wollongong thing where no one wants to talk about the DH scene there because another illegal traill get shut down?
Tell me some legal DH trails in the area (via PM if need be) to put my mind at rest because right now I'm convinced that every second DH rider down there is chucking a mental because their beloved illegal trails have been pulled apart.
I know about a few trails in the area but I don't know which ones are legal and illegal. I am interested to know what is available.
As far as i know there arent any approved (legal) DH trails in the Illawarra, youd have to go down to nowra or up to helensburg? or sydney to find one i think. There are trails around possums and broker's that are on public 'recreational area' land that dont get touched but they aren't exactly big and dont have any NS stuff on them either (not that its a bad thing).
The WMBC ('Gong MTB club) has tried getting a legal track, there was mention of some possible land around kembla grange or unanderra but i dont think anything came of it and I for one aren't holding my breath for anything in the near future :(
vBulletin® v3.7.4, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.