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Blow to trail bike hopes

12 Nov, 2009 06:06 PM
TRAIL bike riders of the Redlands are unlikely to get a track or venue in their hometown after a report detailing the damaging environmental impacts of bikes and lack of appropriate noise buffers for riders was received by Redland City Council last week.

Division 1 councillor and member of the SEQ Council of Mayors Trail Bike Taskforce Wendy Boglary said the report "strengthens what we already knew".

"This report will be an excellent tool to take back to the taskforce to show the unsuitability of the Redlands, but we're working on a regional solution to find a facility that works for everyone," Cr Boglary said.

"We have indications that the State Government has a site they are considering outside the Redlands, but they won't be publicly revealing that until next year."

The council commissioned the report after the Redlands District Motorcycle Club presented a large petition last year, calling for a local, off road motorcycle venue to be established after the closure of the Black Duck Valley venue near Gatton.

President of the club and Victoria Point resident Gary Marks said he had been working with the council for the past eight years to find a venue.

"We're as strongly dedicated to getting a local facility as ever. It would be nice to have it in the Redlands, but realistically, anything we can get that's close by would be fantastic," Mr Marks said.

"We've done a lot of walking around the Redlands with the council's environmental staff and we want to find somewhere that's going to be compatible. We don't want to trash a place and its wildlife.

"In fact, part of joining up to the club's membership is committing to helping out with replanting and revegetating around whatever site is eventually chosen, replacing fences with hedges and plans like that."

Mr Marks said the club had more than 200 licensed riders, most of whom travelled three hours or more to reach legal venues.

"We're a responsible club with a focus on noise and dust minimisation, but with no local venue, we can't do training, coaching or develop programs for kids that have gone off the rails to learn to ride and work with the local bike shops," he said.

The report shows current illegal trail bike activity in the Redlands was causing soil erosion, damage to bushland, exposure for native wildlife to predators and noise was not being sufficiently buffered.

Redland City Mayor Melva Hobson said the report did not "close the door" on a local facility, and that the council supported the taskforce's "regional approach to finding a location".

Earlier this year, chair of the taskforce Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones said market research had been commissioned on the needs and wants of local riders as well as opportunities for programs and events to help identify potential sites in South East Queensland.

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comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
Who cares!!! Koalas don't ride trail bikes!! Unsuitability of Redlands? What about the now unusable quarry site??
Posted by cazruss, 13/11/2009 2:41:09 PM
Recommend the club invests in getting a report of their own commissioned. Clearly, a sanctioned facility within the Redlands will serve to reduce impact of non-sactioned activities.
Posted by Brett, 15/11/2009 4:54:10 PM
Another example of using the environment as the excuse to can anything that our councillers may not be interested in.

It is a pity that our shire is becomming a place for the elite minority of politically correct suck-ups.

Now if it was a golf course or something our councillers could turn a fast buck on maybe it would be different.

One day we may actually have a local governemt that takes into account all of the shire and not just their personal preferences. Once again Discrimination at its best.

Posted by TheVoice, 16/11/2009 1:14:29 PM
The voice. My understanding of this is that the council did try to find a place for this group. I also understand that they are still working to find a solution.
Posted by tom, 16/11/2009 4:24:07 PM
I find myself agreeing with Tom. It seems from the above article that you can have your place as long as it isn't in the Redlands. If only Simon or Lavinia rode trail bikes. Has a familar ring to it doesn't it........
Posted by jumpy, 17/11/2009 7:20:00 AM
This is blatant discrimination against the growing sport of off road motorcycle riding.

Car racing at Mount Cotton receives state and local government support and funding.

Motorcross, recreation and trailbiking is blatantly ostracized within the community, favouring 4 wheel recreation.

I assure all you bike recreationists out there if you take this matter to the surpreme court, on the grounds of discrimination, you WILL WIN the right for a facility to be located and state gov funded.

Get your backside off to some lawyers and lodge a class action NOW!

Stop waiting for someone to offer you a solution.

You are being discriminated against for YOUR CHOICE of sporting recreation.

This is a basic civil right.

It is against the law to favour one group over another.

Dont you get it? Fight it!!!

Posted by Rouger, 19/11/2009 11:27:06 AM
Half the bikes sold in Australia are offroad type bikes.

People are losing their jobs because the motorcycle industry is on a down hill slide partly because of this problem.

I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE FOR THREE HOURS JUST TO GO FOR A RIDE.

Only rich people can afford to do that.

Legal mufflers and places to go is the answer. Just do it councillors.

Posted by hinterland hillbilly, 24/11/2009 12:47:40 PM

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Redlands District Motorcycle Club president Gary Marks with Peter Hull, Chris Maujean, Michael Stoff and Scott Marks. They have to travel up to four hours to reach legal riding venues. Photo: Charles Sonnex.
Redlands District Motorcycle Club president Gary Marks with Peter Hull, Chris Maujean, Michael Stoff and Scott Marks. They have to travel up to four hours to reach legal riding venues. Photo: Charles Sonnex.

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