The accidents at the Possums mountain bike track on the long weekend Monday prove nothing more than the need for more and purpose-built mountain bike tracks in our region.
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Emergency services visited the Illawarra mountain biking haunt Possums twice on Monday. Ironically, it was the same day once earmarked for the demolition of the rider-made dirt jumps that make the site so popular with riders.
After a community outcry, the demolition of jumps at the park was given a stay of execution and National Parks and Wildlife NSW and members of the mountain biking community are set for further talks about the future of the area.
This comes as Wollongong City Council moves ahead with its plan to create a mountain bike playground in the hills between Cringila and Berkeley, a purpose-built mountain bike track which will fit within the city's vision and UCI World Bike City status.
It also came on the day the NSW Government announced funding for mountain bike trails for the region, linked to a plan to develop a transformative Bulli to Botany hiking trail. On Monday, the NSW Governnment vowed to create the dedicated 44 kilometre track linking Mount Keira to Mount Kembla by 2024 as part of a $31 million committment to tourism in national parks.
The increasing popularity of the sport means we need safe and enjoyable facilities for the people who love it. It is recognition the sport of skate boarding went through years ago when as a community we realised if we don't want the proponents doing the sport in public places where they may be a danger to others, we had to provide them with their own spaces to enjoy. This is exactly the situation Wollongong and the Illawarra finds itself in and we are pedaling like mad to meet the demand.
When finished, as an example, the Cringilla Hills facility will move from an underused site to become a tourist and recreational attraction, which will also have walking trails, picnic areas and a new children's playground, as well as a skill park and pump track for bike riders. The winners are not just the bike riders.
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Julian O'Brien
Editor of the Illawarra Mercury and former editor of The Advocate (North-West Tasmania). Journalism is simply about telling good stories well and we do so now across a broader platform than ever before. Our role as a regional masthead is to not only share the stories our readers care about but to be a passionate torch bearers for community at every opportunity. We are stronger together.
Editor of the Illawarra Mercury and former editor of The Advocate (North-West Tasmania). Journalism is simply about telling good stories well and we do so now across a broader platform than ever before. Our role as a regional masthead is to not only share the stories our readers care about but to be a passionate torch bearers for community at every opportunity. We are stronger together.
