THE BACKGROUND

Since 2021, Mill Creek Trail Association Inc. (MCTA) have been constructively working with Sutherland Shire land managers to improve Mountain Biking infrastructure and facilities. Thankfully, there are no longer any discernible attitudes that Mountain Biking ‘does not belong’ as a legitimate sport and recreation within our sporting and environmental landscape.

In fact, far from the Mountain Biking community needing to (as they once did in the recent past) demonstrate either the legitimacy of it’s demand/popularity, or the legitimacy of it’s claims that it’s environmental impact is similar to other ‘in bushland’ recreation activities, land managers now recognise that Mountain Biking should, and can environmentally sensitively, be provided for. 

National Parks and Wildlife Service, via the State Government’s Department of Planning and Environment, now have both a Cycling Plan and a Mountain Biking Plan, covering ways in which they intend to provide sanctioned trails within currently popular unsanctioned zones.

Sutherland Shire Council, via their Open Space Strategy and Implementation Plan, recognise in particular, the Lucas Heights Conservation Area, as being potentially, a regionally significant Bicycle Facility, and hence worthy of certain ‘service standards’. 

THE PROBLEM

However, it is the significant gap between policy, and actual funding and delivery, which remains a concern to the board and members of MCTA.

In brief, with respect to the Royal National Park;

-        It was 2002, when the first trial of sanctioned Mountain Bike Trails first begun in the Royal National Park.

-        It was 2015, when Dirt Art were engaged to conduct a trail audit which established that many unsanctioned trails were generally considered appropriate to be included in a sanctioned network.  

-        It took a further two years, then 2017, for a discussion paper to emerge to engage the wider public in consultation over a formalised trail network.

-        Another three years later, then 2020, Dirt Art are engaged again to complete a fresh trail audit to again consider the networks design and informal trails current scope. 

-        A further three years later again, May 2023, and finally, a Mountain Biking Plan is approved, setting out a pathway for a theoretical network, including processes surrounding the assessment of trail corridors and the sanctioning of trails. 

Unfortunately, since May 2023, no such assessment of trail corridors has occurred, or is planned to occur. In fact, funding which was theoretically available for ‘trails’, has been utilised to maintain fire trail corridors, rather than conducting any mountain bike trail assessments, let alone extend that work to actual trail works. Currently, there are no plans and no funding to actually conduct anything deliverable to the community, or deliverable to actually manage mountain biking and protection of the environment.

 

With respect to the provision of carparking and safe access for Mountain Bikers to the Lucas Heights Conservation Area (LHCA) and it’s contained Mill Creek MTB Trails network; 

-        It was 2011 when the area was first ‘designated’ to accommodate Mountain Bike access

-        In 2012 – 2013, Sutherland Shire Council (SSC) and ANSTO failed to successfully negotiate a lease agreement which would have seen an expansion of sanctioned trails within ANSTO’s buffer zone lands. This lease would have importantly allowed for infrastructure links such as carparking and safe access to be provided via either ANSTO or The Ridge Sports Complex.

-        It took until 2020, for SSC to successfully negotiate and plan with ANSTO and SUEZ (the landfill site operator at the time), to provide cleared, leased and fenced land to accommodate a 78 space carpark and off-road safe-access corridor.

-        In 2022, SSC had allowed the project’s funding, and it’s works calendar position, to lapse after a change of ownership of the landfill site from SUEZ to Cleanaway, having never actually secured the lease. Thankfully this funding and calendar commitment was able to be restored after advocacy from MCTA Inc and assistance from Councillors and SSC staff.

-        In early 2023, MCTA’s Board were informally advised to expect a finalised lease agreement and potentially, construction to commence before EOFY (30 June ’23). 

-        Now, after a number of requests from ANSTO to SSC for design adjustments, ‘final’ designs, Environmental Impact Statements and Operational Plans, SSC seem to be in a position to obtain the lease, and procure for construction however; 

o   While plans are now for at least for a ‘sealed’, gated and CCTV covered carpark (not just cleared and fenced land), the carpark may be downsized to 52 spaces (dependant on funding)

o   There are still no plans for anything other than a fenced and cleared cycleway corridor, no actual surfacing or grading has been designed or funded

o   In order to fund the project, it’s being funded across two financial years, despite how long the project has been ‘in planning’. 

o   There are still no current plans to accommodate LHCA / Mill Creek MTB Trails with signage, shelter or shade areas, drinking water, bike stands or toilets, as is suggested is ‘desirable’ for a regionally significant bicycle facility in their own policy documents.

 

THE SOLUTION

It is for these reasons, and the demonstrable gap between land manager policy planning and actual delivery of Mountain Biking related infrastructure, that the board of MCTA Inc, with support from it’s members, call on it’s members and the wider public to provide their support via the attached petition.

The petition calls specifically on; 

-        National Parks and Wildlife Service to; 

o   be immediately appropriately funded and staffed to deliver on the strategies adopted in their Cycling Plan and Mountain Biking Plan for the Royal National Park, Heathcote National Park and Garawarra State Conversation Area, and; 

-        Sutherland Shire Council to; 

o   Commit to fully funding the intended carpark at it’s original design size, so that downsizing of the carpark is not necessary to maintain it’s ‘construction quality’

o   Provide some level of surfacing and grading to the Cycleway, not just a fenced corridor, and;

o   Outline and commit to a timeline and funding to provide the LHCA with the Bicycle Facility ‘service standards’ as listed in their Open Space Strategy and Implementation Plan.