Page 4937 - Week 13 - Thursday, 2 November 2017
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diversion of activities that might not be as suited to nature reserves or national park, and allow for the diluting of recreational impact across the landscape.
I mentioned that Kowen Forest supports about 120 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails. At this point I acknowledge a small dedicated group of volunteers who passionately give of their time to build and create mountain bike trails in our pine forests. They have created such gems as the “Crazy Horse”, the “Drunken Noodle”, the “Dunny Back Door” and “Extra Nooky”; trails that are colourfully named, and designed to challenge all levels of mountain bike expertise.
I have met with the representatives from groups who use trails in Kowen Forest, Majura Pines and elsewhere as well as the track builders themselves. My commitment was that forest managers would consider ways of minimising the impact forest harvesting and replanting operations have on the mountain bike trail networks and to consider and advise on additional areas that can be opened up for mountain biking.
At times the sustainable harvest of an allotment will impact on trails. While new trails can be rebuilt relatively quickly with the aid of machinery, mountain bikers do not value a section of trail through a cleared landscape as highly as one running under the canopy of pines. Where harvesting operations can be delayed in preference to other parts of the forest, this will and has been done in the past. In fact, many of the trails in Kowen have persisted for many years as harvesting schedules have been staggered. However, as alternative allotments are exhausted and the east Kowen pines begin to push the boundaries of marketable age, these areas are required to come on line for harvesting.
Forest managers have engaged with all track builders for a number of years, and formally since 2012, regarding a sustainable harvesting scheduling for Kowen. The aim is to keep dialogue open with track builders and to be clear about the potential life of trails thus enabling track builders to understand the risks of building new tracks in certain parts of the forest estate.
I add that as part of its recreational use planning, the parks and conservation service is currently undertaking a recreational landscape analysis for the entirety of land under its management, including nature reserves and pine forests. The aim is to produce a considered policy position on what recreation can be supported where. This process will be a public one guided by a community steering group, and it is anticipated that the mountain biking community will have representation.
Returning to the concept of making Canberra the cycling capital, I agree with Mr Rattenbury that much could be done to leverage our natural advantage to keep and attract more cycling tourism to our city. This government has committed to the development of the cycling tourism strategy. In fact, Visit Canberra has been leading an inter-directorate effort to produce a draft of this document together with key stakeholder groups.
The strategy and accompanying action plan will look to adopt a whole-of-government approach to ensure that the key decisions relating to infrastructure, transport, parks
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