By KATH GANNAWAY
THE popularity and growth of mountain bike riding in the State Forest around Warburton is proving a double-edged sword.
A meeting called by DELWP (Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning) on Thursday 19 November, in Wesburn highlighted some of the conflicting views and impacts that the growth of the sport has had and how it can be managed into the future.
Representatives of Yarra Ranges Council and the Yarra Ranges Mountain Bikers (YRMTB) attended, along with local residents and representatives of other interest groups such as bushwalkers and environment groups.
Issues raised included competing use by bike riders and walkers, damage to plants, building of illegal tracks and jumps and the failure of DELWP to prosecute over the years, increased traffic along Old Warburton Road, inadequate and inappropriate car parking, dust, noise and anti-social behaviour by some drivers and riders.
DELWP presented a plan at the meeting that aims to address many of the issues raised.
One of the major sticking points raised was DELWP’s inaction in the past in dealing with illegal track building.
DELWP regional manager Nick Ryan said while he was not across the history of reporting, DELWP was currently doing weekend patrols which were not detecting illegal track building.
He said there was a misconception that it was illegal to ride in the state forest, but it was the building of tracks and jumps that was illegal.
“If we find people digging tracks we will book them,” he said.
Mr Ryan said as land manager of state forests DWLWP managed for a variety of uses which includes bike riding.
“Our focus is on trying to fix problems that have arisen and to have control over what’s happening in the state forest and make sure bikes are compatible with all the other uses in the forest.”
The formation of the Yarra Ranges Mountain Bikers at the instigation of DELWP was a move to collaborate with bike riders through a recognised advocacy group aimed at regulating the sport in the forest.
YRMTB president Damian Auton put the lack of enforcement over the years down to a lack of resources by DELWP.
“The resources, personnel and money invested in public land management have been reduced over time.
He said as an advocacy group representing some, but not all bike riders, they were working with DEWLP to have illegal trails authorised to conform to international standards including safety, sustainability and take into account cultural and sustainability aspects.
“If we don’t all work together, what is going to happen is that illegal trail-building will continue,” he said.
Resident Derry Talvainn called for more research into the impacts on the bush and the impact on walkers in relation to the proposal for more bike tracks in the bush.
Peter Silis, another resident, called for a more open dialogue and said he had serious concerns about Yarra Ranges Council’s feasibility study.
One resident wrote on the ‘input’ sheets “I used to walk the Backstairs Track weekly… can’t anymore due to the down-hillers”.
Concerns about fire risk were countered with a suggestion that there could be no activity on high fire risk days.
The input gathered at the meeting will inform the DELWP’s draft plan and further consultation is planned for 2016.
