I rise to speak about activities in my Ward during the winter recess where the Schrinner Council is creating new opportunities for residents to stay healthy and enjoy our natural spaces.
Five years ago, our Council developed an off-road cycling strategy which aimed to meet the needs of the rapidly growing off-road cycling community by providing a safe, well-planned and connected network of facilities that protect Brisbane’s natural environment.
A number of the reserves identified for potential off-road cycling activities are in the western suburbs, including Gold Creek Reserve at Brookfield, John Sprent Reserve at Moggill, Marstaeller Road Reserve, Mt. Crosby, and Changing Mountain Bushland, Kholo Bushland Reserve and Shelley Road Park, at Kholo.
But much of the implementation of the mountain bike riding and off-road cycling strategy has focused on Mount Coot-tha to date.
Chair, a key part of the strategy in creating off-road cycling opportunities to cater for this popular pastime was to ensure the protection of the reserve’s significant environmental and heritage values.
It was important that we got the balance right and there is no doubt in my mind we are achieving that in what Council has delivered to date.
In creating trails that are safe and providing challenges for riders of all skill levels, Council has also closed down a number of tracks on Mount Coot-tha that have been illegally built, are unsafe and have damaged the environment.
I work closely with the NEWS team who put their heart and soul into the development of new riding spaces while at the same time ensuring the protection of the mountain’s unique environmental features.
A special shout-out to Scott Oertel, Wayne Hall and Julia Blomhardt and of course our wonderful Trail Care volunteers who dedicate hundreds of hours each year maintaining the quality of our trails.
Chair, the first stage at Gap Creek Reserve was the development of the Crebra Climb Trail at Gap Creek Reserve.
Upon its completion earlier this year, Council set about creating a second trail leading from the top of Crebra Climb back down to Gap Creek Reserve Park.
That is Carpet Snake Trail and I’m pleased to say it is now completed and is proving a massive hit not only with local mountain and off-road riders but with enthusiasts travelling many miles to check it out.
I particularly want to thank the Natural Environment Chair, Cr. Davis who has oversight of Council’s off-road cycling strategy and the creation of these new riding opportunities at Mount Coot-tha.
It was only fitting that Cr. Davis was on hand to join me in cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of Carpet Snake Trail a couple of weeks ago.
That day was well attended by riders of all ages and skills and has been since. I’m told that last weekend alone, there were up to 2,000 riders on Carpet Snake Trail, and the feedback has been nothing but positive.
Chair, in addition to the off-road trails in my ward, the Schrinner Council has also just delivered a dirt jumps track at Merri Merri Park, Chapel Hill.
This was a project delivered through the Pullenvale Ward Suburban Enhancement Fund to provide opportunities for young BMX riders in the Chapel Hill and Kenmore areas.
There is a story with a happy ending behind this track.
About this time last year, I became aware that a group of young riders had begun building an illegal jumps structure in nearby Cicada Park. Tree branches had been cut, holes had been dug to build dirt mounds and the natural course of Cubberla Creek had been diverted though the placement of boulders in the waterway.
I fronted them one afternoon said that I was going to request Council remediate the damaged section of the park and if they continued, any digging tools found in our parks would be confiscated.
When they said they had nowhere locally to ride, I told them I would do a deal – I would find a way to have a track built to cater for local young riders if they agreed to stop damaging our local parks.
They agreed and to their credit, kept their part of the deal.
Not only that Chair, they agreed to be part of the consultation process we undertook and signed off on the track features our contractor was proposing.
I kept them in the loop on progress with this project and it came as no surprise to see how they have embraced this new track since the security fencing was removed last Friday.
So, my new best friends are happy and I’m pleased Cicada Park has returned to being a popular family friendly space and an ecologically important local catchment.
Thank you.