Recreation Discussion Paper

The Victorian Alps offer a fantastic opportunity for mountain biking. Unfortunately at the moment mountain bikers are confined to gravel roads which is hardly the experience they would like. Cycling along a wide gravel road shared with 4WDs and other traffic does not provide that 'wilderness/backcountry' feeling that they seek. 

The discussion paper identifies cross country and downhill as the two major disciplines of mountain biking however this statement seems to give the impression that a rider is either into one or the other and that facilties must be built to accomodate them.

This is simply not true. Policy in the past has always had an approach of providing an 'out of the way' area for mountain bikers to go and practice their 'dark art'. Whilst some riders do seek to zoom round their own trails at speed the vast majority don't.

With a unique area such as the Victorian Alps many riders would be happy just to 'get out there' and explore on trails that offer more technical challange than a graded gravel road. 

In many parts of the world (US, Europe, NZ) walking trails are happily shared with mountain bikers however care has always been taken to choose trails that are appropriate (i.e. not highly trafficked) and a code of conduct has alway been established (for example, give way to walkers, always ride in control etc).

As for facilties all that would be required is a car park. Mountainbikers can be a very self sufficient bunch.

I would love to see Victoria open some of its walking trails so mounatinbikers can also enjoy some of the spectacular wild scenery.

For information Tasmania has recently released a Mountain Bike Plan that seeks to open several key walking trails to mountain bikers to create a series of 'wild rides'. The thoughts behind this are that this will attract mountain bikers from all over the globe to come an experience Tasmanias wild scenery. This will in turn help to boost tourism in the region. I know both Canada and Wales (UK) have experienced a healthy boost to tourism by doing similar things with mountainbiking.

Hi Ian,

As an avid park user, I would like to comment on the lack of mountian biking trails that are available.

Parks seem to cater for other recreational activities, but not mountian biking, in particular the Downhill discipline.

I enjoy my hiking and snow skiing in the Alpine parks, I would also like to be able to ride my bikes in the Alpine parks in summer.  Mountian biking's popularity is growing and the success for the World Championships in Canberra this year is evidence to that.  Australia needs to catch up to other countries like North America, Canada and most of Europe in regards to mountian bike access in Alpine National Parks.

Tourism can benefit greatly if better biking trails for both cross counrty and downhill were established.  Trails can be built to be enviormentally sustainable with little or no imapct on our enviroment.

Thank you for your time in reading my comment.

Regards

Grahame

Walking Tracks (Designated ) should be for walkers only. Walkers should have a reasonable expectation that the experience they seek is obtainable , and will not be undermined by conflicts with other users , to have to compete with Bikes or Horses on narrow walking tracks , diminishes this experience. In lots of cases bushwalkers are forced to use vehicle tracks, fire trails, Management Tracks, and in such instances would expect to meet other users , but not on designated walking tracks.Its easy for bike & horse users to argue for their activity , as they are not impacted by walkers

David,

Thanks for this comment, are there specific trails designated as walking tracks where you have noticed conflict?

Regards,

Louise

Mountain bike riding is an interesting case, I assume when previous Management Plan's were devised and tracks were designated for use the sport was either in it's infancy or essentially there was little demand (although I may be wrong). I am not a mountain bike rider but I appreciate the fact that if mountain bike riding existed in its current popular form historically then very likely existing trail designation may well have been more equitable for both groups of recreational users.

I understand that Mountain bike riding is a growing sport and has potential to contribute significantly to regional economies in terms of recreational and tourism if the summer operations of overseas ski resorts are anything to go by. I appreciate that with the growth in popularity and demand as well as the potential opportuntities of the Greater Alpine National Park then expansion of access for mountain bike riders should be somthing that is investigated and explored.

Whilst part of the recreational activity consideration is obviously impact and we should all consider the interference to other users, conflict etc I think we all should take some responsibility for recognizing the values and aspirations of other users and rather than saying "we don't want you", look at ways in which equitable outcomes can be reached.

Perhaps it is sharing some trails, perhaps seasons would apply or events occur where some trails are shared or become available for Mountain bike riding, maybe even the development of new tracks and trails. Possibly increased regulation, permits and compliance paid for by permits, stakeholders, grants...who knows there are many possibilities.

I suspect that resistance to additional tracks and access by conservation groups may limit the development of seperate tracks or trails for Mountain bike riders, given such a scenario all recreational users need to appreciate that the resources for recreational users are limited and as such we may well need to be more open to sharing and being inclusive and look for solutions that are equitable rather than excluding.

There is a massive need for sustainable mtb single trails to be built in the alps suitable for all diciplines, Whistler(Canada) or Queenstown (New Zealand) are great examples of how this can be acheived, when asthetically pleasing chairlifts or gondolas are added for access, the trails can not only attract riders from all over Australia but also from all over the world. The financial benifit would be massive as there are currently very few areas available in Australia that cater in this way.

All trails should be designed to IMBA standard and consultation with mountain bike groups is also advantageous to make sure the trails are suitable to the user group.

Ben,

The link to Internation Moubntain Biking Association is http://www.imba.com/. They seem to be the leaders in standards, policy and volunteer programs. Are there some mountain bike blog sites that are specific to Victoria that we could tap into?

As an avid walker and rider I think it would be great to construct a trail similar to the Alpine Walking Track or Bicentennial Trail for MTB's.

The "funpark" aspect of Mountain Biking is catered for at Forrest, Lysterfield and the You Yangs, but long distance trail riding is not possible in the Alps at present. The trail would need to be separate from walkers if possible, I don't feel a dual use trail would be acceptable to walkers except for short distances.

Chris

Hi all

Some excellent discussion surrounding opportunities for mountain biking in the Alps parks.  I have a strong connection to the area - as a Parks Victoria employee, as an avid mountain biker, and 10 year + resident in Harrietville at the bottom of Mt Hotham.

While I acknowledge the discussion around construction of new tracks specifically for mountain biking, I feel that there are better & more sustainable opportunities for the exploration of converting existing 'walker only trails', into multi-use trails. 

Does anyone know of any existing 'walker only' trails that they believe could facilitate mountain biking sustainably?

I ride mountain bikes, in both downhill, cross country and all mountain riding. I would love to see more of any style of these trails in the alps, as would any mountain bike rider. National parks currently do very little in the way of mountain bike trails and access, despite the huge growth of the sport and the market's acceptance of travelling a distance to find good legal places to ride.

I think this fact should be noted, that proximity to population isn't always such an important factor. Every weekend, so many mountainbike riders travel long distances to ride, and the alps are close enough to be able to be ridden often, either for weekends or even day trips. Increased tourism in these towns will greatly benifit small businesses' and the area.

It is also important to judge how many people will be riding these trails. In many cases, such as Lysterfield, close to Melbourne, there are only two major tracks, and these sustain so many riders that wear on the track becomes an issue despite the relatively small footprint of each individual mountain biker. An easy solution that has been adopted in other countries the the building of more trails, of various lengths and difficulty to spread the load and reduce crowding.

Thanks Nicholas

The long distance routes you suggest sound interesting, and warrant further investigation.  From what I can gather from your description they would use existing vehicle tracks, is that correct?  And would only require promotion of the existing facilities as "long-distance mountain bike opportunities".

Can you (or anyone else) suggest any "single track" - currently walker only trails, that could provide for multi-use, shorter out and back or loop opportunties.  Particularly those trails that would provide a "single track" experience for riders, and already fit within the scope of sustainable trail provision/management from the perspective of the International Mountain Biking Association guidlelines.   

I would like to discuss both road and mountain biking with the Alpine Parks.  Cycling in general has been a growth sports in Australia over the last several years.  The Alpine parks have wonderful opportunities to tap into these sports and indeed they already do.  Events such as the Alpine Classic showcase the drawing power of cycling.

This drawing power can be further developed by the creation of MTB specific trails.  Many ski resorts in North America and Europe have built specific trails and have benefited greatly by the increased patronage during the summer months. No doubt Parks Victoria have already acknowledged this as several of our ski resorts have started to tap into this market. 

There is now many resources for developing sustainable trails, these have been mentioned in previous comments.  The development of a Management Plan for MTBs and cycling in general is a strong step forward.

As a bushwalker I feel that dedicated MTB tracks are the way to go in most cases. The Management vehicle tracks (eg Big River fire trail) and the tracks around the aqueduct are wide enough to share between walkers and cyclists (you would have to emphasise shared use and a keep left rule). The existing walking tracks might seem wide enough for shared use but I think on examination you would find many sections where width and line of sight would make an unpleasant experience if shared.

Firstly, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this discussion.

My perspective is from that of a cross country mountain biker. In broad terms, I like riding up hill as much as I do down, and I don't go particularly quick in either direction. Over a longer ride, especially in the Alps, I (and most riders I imagine) would be lucky to average 15 km/h.

I have done -some- riding in the Alpine National Park and surrounds, and really enjoy the environment and the opportunity to complete a challenging ride in an environment I wouldn't otherwise necessarily see. I see mountain biking as an opportunity to attract people to the Parks that otherwise wouldn't attend outside of the ski season. This also brings family and friends to the park, and of course tourism dollars as well.

What the Alps currently lack are a network of single trails, as opposed to 4wd and cat tracks. The majority of our riding to date has either been the Falls Creek Plateau, or the East Kiewa River tracks from Hotham down to Harrietville and Bright. Whilst very enjoyable, they do lack the technical aspect that other riding experiences can provide. And while it is clearly not possible to create a MTB-exclusive network of trails across the entire Alpine region, there may well be scope to create some.

This potentially could take the form of some of the existing walking trails.

I see there is some questions and concerns about the extent of negative walker / cyclist interactions. I have done a fair bit of cycling and a fair bit of walking, and I don't think I've had a negative experience in either direction yet. Without specifically mentioning sections of trail, I am sure there are some sections that would be co-habitable, and some that won't. A canny planner may be able to link existing trails together, and provide a trail network and experience that will appeal to both cyclists and hikers.

I don't currently have the references to hand to back up this claim, but there are a number of studies and papers available with regard to the environmental damage of walkers vs mountain bikers. In the most the findings have shown that mountain biking on correctly built and maintained trails can have less environmental impact than walking the same trails, with less soil compaction and erosion issues being caused.

What I would like to see are some out-and-back routes that incorporate single trail and some technical aspects, together with some loops of varying difficulty and length, ranging from plateau rides to longer rides with significant climbing and descending.

Some routes that immediately come to mind are Falls - Spjon - Bogong Village - Falls, Razorback to Harrietville and return, or Falls - Falls via the aquaducts and Pretty Valley. Other popular rides are the Hotham - Harrietville option, and also Falls - Beauty. I am still a relative newcomer to Alpine riding, I am sure there are many other challenging options that could exist. Someone more experienced or knowledgable (Finish Line Events, Paul Fitzgerald, or members of Team Mt Beauty) may be able to assist.

I believe Mt Buller, in conjunction with Glenn Jacobs and World Trails has done an excellent job in this respect, and may well make an excellent case study.

In terms of ongoing cycling community support for any trails, there are four very strong and active MTB clubs in the area that I'm sure would be able to assist - Team Mt Beauty, Alpine Cycling Club, Beechworth Chain Gang, and Albury Wodonga Mountain Bikers.

Anthony,

This is great information, regarding mountain biking clubs I'll contact all and encourage participation on this medium. I'll also ensure all of the Rangers In Charge in the area are well aware.

Regards

I join with Dave Rimmer and Jim Harker in espousing the cause of the retention or expansion of the network of dedicated walking tracks in the Alpine National Park. Sharing them with mountainbikers, horseriders, 4W-drivers, trailbikers and armed huntsmen raises obvious safety issues as well as the issue of diminished enjoyment for all concerned. While we would rather have shared access than none at all, we by no means regard such an approach as optimal; rather we regard it as far from satisfactory, and our policy is clearly to keep or enlarge on the number of dedicated designated walking tracks in the Park. We would see any movement from dedicated to shared as a backward step, and we do not support its occurrence.

With regards to the comment by Dr Phil Brotchie, ( sharing tracks with armed huntsmen, ) I find this comment rather strange insofar as, when do armed huntsmen use the tracks to hunt on? I would have thought they'd be anywhere but on a track. Besides it's illegal to use a firearm from a roadway/track/trail. I feel that it's a rather selfish attitude to exclude all others except bushwalkers.

Hi all,

It is clear there are some passionate views around the use of tracks for recreation! We will get some maps together showing all tracks and trails and current classification so you can all see what the current provision is. I would also like to highlight the Netiquitte section we have provided in the Participate tab as a reminder for all.

Regards

There seems to be a focus in much of the above discussion on the very high usage areas of the Alpine National Park, where conflicts between different uses are most likely to occur. It would seem logical to me to spread the different users as widely as possible to minimise such issues.

I am not sure what Parks Victoria's policy on miners trails is, but it seems to me that there are probably many hundreds of kilometres of such relic paths through the ANP and many more outside in the state forests. Most of these tracks are overgrown by scrub and blackberries and criss-crossed by fallen logs and would need a bit of work to open them up but they may serve the needs of people if such work was allowed.

My recollection is that The Alps at the Crossroads mapped (probably very inexactly) where these trails are, and certainly, in my years of deer hunting you tend to come across them in all sorts of unlikely looking places. Many of these trails are already used by deer hunters to access isolated valleys, but many more have probably not seen a footfall in over 100 years (for example in the Dargo above Mayford and in the Little Dargo).

Some of these tracks may be suitable for mountain biking, and keep them away from the scenic routes beloved of the walking fraternity (and I am certain that backcountry deer hunters and trout fishermen would be only too keen to share them with a few bike riders, or may use a bike to access an area).

Cheers

Ken,

Who produced The Alps at the Crossroads and where is it available? This research http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/about-doc/role/qc-track-user-research.pdf also provides some useful information on multi-use tracks.

Regards

Louise,

Most PV offices and libraries should have a copy of this book. I would suggest that the book may be one place to start gathering information on where tracks are that may be usefully opened for public use (bikes and foot in particular), but the tracks were only a minor part of the publication and the information presented may not be complete or very accurate. I think that you would need to gather source documents or discuss the exact locations of tracks with local people, hunters, fishermen, cattlemen, miners, walkers etc.

It also occurs to me that in many places there may also be water races that were constructed many years ago that could be used similarly to miners tracks.

Cheers