MTB Trailcare

Ashley and I had a road trip to Brisbane to attend this forum tonight (it's just after midnight now).  We had time to take a little detour to Gap Creek Reserve and have a look.  Their new shelter area was opened today and lots of volunteer trailworkers and some riders were using it to get out of the rain.  Gillian had them working on a long section of trail before attending the forum.

The forum was a chance to hear what QPWS is up to regarding recreation and their plans for the next 6 months.  6 months is the reporting period the Newman State Government has given them as a rolling deadline.    

There were representatives from QPWS,  Sport and Rec, QORF, Qld Orienteering, Quad Bikes, Qld (Horse)riders,  4WD, Gillian Duncan and us.  It was good to be able to represent MTB in the forum and it was obvious MTB has been accepted by QPWS.

On our local scene, the trailcare agreement between GCMTB club and QPWS was part of a presentation of what's going on in Qld.  We were able to discuss our local system of using internet reporting to reduce QPWS workload and how it builds out of trust.  We came away with a strong impression this could become a standard that increases the efficiency of trailcare as well as assisting a resource-poor QPWS keep up with all their other responsibilities all over Qld.

MTB racing on QPWS land was discussed.  Negotiations have commenced for a race, the first in 10 years in SE Qld.  Also up on Powerpoint was the Commonwealth Games.  The decision is yet to be made, but Nerang is becoming the front-runner to host the Comm Games MTB races.  The potential boost to Nerang MTB is enough to restart a dead heart.

There was a long discussion about maps, signage and new technologies.  Horse riders and 4WD representatives were particularly concerned at the lack of official and reliable maps, as online maps are not accurate, but are available.  QPWS said it was difficult to come up with maps to satisfy all users, especially as a number of trails that were put in for previous purposes were meant to close, or were unsafe, but were considered usable on unofficial maps.  

QPWS is in the process of updating their online facilities and maps, but there was agreement a place for paper resources exists as well.  Online maps are no help where you cannot connect to the net.

Sign posts were raised as an alternate way to assist user safety.  There was general agreement that a "universal" sign standard be identified and implemented across all land tenures.  Signs that point to quickest park exits among other details were reviewed.  QR codes on signs is starting to make sense to everyone.

With regard to trail construction materials, there is no absolute exclusion of imported building materials.  We explained there are places you cannot harvest everything needed without doing too much damage.  There was no obvious issue with accessing stone from a quarry bordering the park (eg Boral quarry at Nerang), but it is a local issue.

There was discussion of a new trail link from trails to be constructed at Upper Kedron, through to the forum venue bordering the D'Aguilar NP and the SEQ Water Enoggera Reservoir land and then south to join the Gap Creek MTB trail system.  There's a day out on the bike!

One last thing; for those involved with MTB in the Nerang NP for some time, Guy Thomas of QPWS has been a strong advocate for MTB in Nerang for years.  He is about to move on from the Outdoor Recreation branch of QPWS.  MTB has a lot to thank him for.  What is happening in Nerang has a lot to do with his involvement over the years, so it was good to be able to see Guy again.  He had nice things to say about our trailwork in Nerang and all our good wishes go with him.

Time for sleep

Louis