IMBA Australia

On Monday the 15th, Tony Scott and I met with Parks Vic Strategic Planners and Staff.

The meeting was very positive and focused on the means and methods that are required to provide legal MTB access in the Parks around Melbourne. As with all our cities, the open spaces that are closer to metro areas are the ones where illegal MTB trail construction and user conflicts are the most contentious issues.

The IMBA model for resolving such issues was put forward for consideration and it will certainly be considered in depth as the Parks Vic and the Dept for Sustainbility move towards a more strategic approach to MTB management and provision in Victoria.

A quick field visit to the Yarra Bend National Park highlighted some issues about the MTB trails. It is a beautiful natural asset; to have good quality native bush so close to the city so we all need to understand that it needs to be protected and respected. I am extremely confident that challenging single track can be developed along the Yarra and in other urban Parks with out compromising biodiveristy values. A number of projects were mentioned during discussions and IMBA Australia is keen to support Parks Vic to ensure that we can work together to find solutions to these access issues.

Discussions with the Dept for Sustainability and Environment (DSE)have also been extemely positive. In Januray, Norm Douglas (vice president of MTBA) and myself met DSE staff in Forrest to discuss and propose methods to allow MTB riders and volunteers to assist with trail maintenance to ensure that the Forrest Trails are kept to the high standard that we enjoy now. Discussions are continuing and the development of policy around volunteer involvement in the Forrest Region will help to facilitate a long term trail stewardship program in Forrest. Again IMBA Australia is keen to help out every step of the way to make this happen.

These meetings in Victoria follow on from successful meetings in NSW which also focused on local MTB access in metro Parks and broader state-wide strategies to accommodate MTB see more here http://www.mtba.asn.au/TRAILS/?IntCatId=10