The vast majority of nearly 1000 submissions on a mountain biking park at Mt Keira may have been supportive, but it is becoming clear a long process could be ahead for those progressing the plan.
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A total of 956 submissions were received on the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Strategy, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) said.
More than nine months after the consultation period ended a "public exhibition report" produced by NPWS contained little detail on the strength of attitudes, or specific concerns.
While the specifics of each submission cannot be provided, more than 80 per cent of submissions were broadly supportive of the Strategy.
- National Parks spokesman
And while more than 80 per cent of comments supported the strategy, this feedback will now go an advisory group for consideration - but the advisory group has not yet been established.
NPWS would not give any more detail about the content of the submissions, even those from public agencies.
"The NSW Government produces a range of draft policies, agreements and reports that call for community engagement and consultation," a spokesman said.
"All submissions received as part of public consultation processes are treated in confidence.
"While the specifics of each submission cannot be provided, more than 80 per cent of submissions received ... were broadly supportive of the Strategy.
"The report will be considered by the Illawarra Escarpment Mountain Bike Advisory Group, which will be established shortly."
It appears likely the trail network will differ from the original concept plan.
Since the concept plan was developed, an Illawarra Escarpment Alliance was established by 15 different groups to make their voices heard on the issue. This included the Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council, National Parks Association, and the Greens, and the group opposed the strategy, claiming a lack of consultation.
"The concept plan formed the basis of the draft strategy," the NPWS said.
"NPWS and Wollongong City Council have considered feedback from the public on the draft strategy which will help inform the final strategy.
"The next step is the development of a framework (operating framework) setting out how to develop and operate the mountain bike trail network across different land tenures (national parks, local government land and possibly other land).
"A comprehensive and detailed environmental assessment also will be undertaken to determine the impact of the proposed trail network."
Ben Langford
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
