Appin closed to all riders

[ido09s]

No change yet Clifton though people are still riding the trail. It looks like they park up the street and ride down to the trail head. I go past there all the time and regularly see people riding in and out of the place but no cars parked there at all

So fricking spewing this happened.

[Comic Book Guy]

From the wmbc web site:

At the moment we are waiting for the Tharawal Land Council to respond at their next board meeting. The club is astounded by the volume of letters of support from families, riders, other clubs and advocacy groups. This has been all documented. Numerous media groups are also asking questions to which we have declined to comment on pending the Land Council meeting. Keep those letters coming but don't contact the Land Council as it might hinder the process. Dekka

[ido09s]

When was that posted CBG as i cant find it on their site....

[Comic Book Guy]

It's at the bottom of the post "Scott 24hr.. What happened!" on the front page: http://www.wmbc.asn.au/.

Cheers.

[bmar560]

Good news from the wmbc facebook page, looks like you can ride there now but not race.

[Clifton]

Happy days! Appin was in such good condition after Grant put in all those hours, cant wait to ride it again

[ido09s]

This sucks!!!!!!!

From WMBC...

APPIN MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACKS

The Wollongong Mountain Bike Club was formally advised this week of the outcome of the latest Board Meeting of the Tharawal Land Council. The news was not good. The Council has informed us that they will not allow us to use their land for Mountain Biking. This follows weeks of lobbying and attempts to make presentations to the Council. In the end the outcome rested on a single letter that we were allowed to present putting forward our case.
This is a devastating result and one that will affect hundreds of people from the Mountain Biking Community.
The Land Council stated when asked for the reasoning behind their decision....

“This decision was reached with concerns as to the impact on the environment of the land and impact on the cultural heritage of the land.”

When asked whether this affected all bike riding on the land?

“It is private land, therefore, like anyone else's private property, any access without authorisation is considered trespassing.”

The Wollongong Mountain Bike Club will continue to lobby for access to the land in an attempt to persuade the Council that MTB is not only a positive healthy pursuit, but that it can be done in a sustainable and environmentally friendly fashion. The benefits of MTB in the area spread well beyond just the physical benefit to the participants, but the presence of MTB’ers in the area has also reduced the impact of motor bikes, 4 wheel drives, dumping and other less desirable pursuits that have carried on in the area prior to WMBC setting up a track there.

Unfortunately they may be mistaking us for Motor bikes or Four Wheel drives, both of which have caused significant damage in this and other areas.

We, as Mountain Bikers embrace the natural and unspoilt settings that we ride in. Our aim is to retain the environmental and cultural value of the land.

Should anyone have connections or influence with the Land Council please don’t hesitate to make contact with them to try and convince them of our motives. Any contact with the Council must be made in a civil and constructive manner in order to benefit the MTB cause. Copies of any correspondence sent to the Council should be copied to us to help our lobbying efforts.

We are now searching for a suitable site to build another track. Any suggestions here would be helpful..................

[Clifton]

[donny70]

That's a really sad outcome. I think that Appin was one of the nicest tracks I've ridden and was always beautifully maintained...