GFoz,
Thanks for your support and interest. Luckily the Victorian Trail Riders Network already has close links to AMTRA but that doesn't mean we can ever slack off. I was just about to post the message below when I saw your thread. More riders are signing to support our efforts almost daily but there are still plenty more out there that we need to make our voice bigger and stronger.
Come on guys sign up, it is free.
b][Otways and Enfeild track closures[/b]
Time to start writing submissions the thin edge of the wedge has been fitted to a dozer and is about to be forced all the way home. For anyone that rides the Paddy's Swamp and Tanners areas in the Otways read it and weep. The plan shuts down almost every track to bikes, 4x4's horses and even MTB'ers. So much for working with DSE and the wonderful things the Trail Bike Initiative has brought us. The fight is not over yet but we need your support.
Otway Trail Riders president has already indicated OTR supports the planned closures and considers this action by DSE to be part of a compromise. On the other hand The Victorian Trail Riders Network seeks to represent the views of all trail riders not just the 40 that OTR have capped rides to in the Otways on three or four occasions a year.
It is important to rally together and not let these closures go unchallanged or DSE will rapidly implement the same thinking at every opportunity they can.
Please see below the DSE Press release that was sent to me by Simon White DSE Trail Bike Officer for the Southwest.
Group hopes to see trail bikes and the environment hand in hand The East Otways trail bike community reference group is committed to bringing trail bike riding on to a sustainable footing in the Otways.
The combined skills and experience of group members is assisting DSE to be creative in its aim of ensuring trail bike riding is undertaken in accordance with good environmental management principles within the Great Otway National Park, Otway Forest Park and Anglesea Heath.
Department of Sustainability and Environment Trail Bike Project Officer, Simon White said the group has provided excellent advice to the trail bike project over the past two years.
“Prior to the trail bike project, local communities worked hard to bring about change in particular trail bike riding hotspot areas in the Otways,” he said.
“By gathering together a reference group of bike riders, residents, forest users, environmental groups and local and State government, DSE is building on what communities achieved in the past.”
Mr White said members of the trail bike community reference group brought diverse views to the reference group meetings.
“It is commendable that the group can agree on various aspects of the project, particularly considering the range of mixed feelings towards trail bikes,” he said. “What seems to start out as a challenge can often end up with a creative solution,” Mr White said.
Otway Trail Riders President, Dan Barwise is pleased to be actively involved in the reference group.
“The group has provided an opportunity for riders to understand the issues of residents and other user groups and for us to talk about workable solutions,” he said. “We are examining current proposals and on the whole we are supportive.”
“The reference group has been great for the future of trail bike riding in the Otways. It gives us a voice, and we can address many trail bike rider issues,” Mr Barwise said.
An example of this group consensus is the recent identification of areas within the Otways that require rehabilitation because of the illegal off-road use of trail bikes.
DSE is currently advertising these areas and depending on feedback from the community, the sites will be rehabilitated in the coming year.
Further information can be obtained by calling the DSE Customer Service Centre on 136 186 or on the DSE website
http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/trailbikes I might also add that since the last Reference Group meeting the plans we were shown were changed without discussion to remove the proposed link between Paddy's Swamp and Tanners. This was a key component of the plan and without it VTRN would have withdrawn all support for the project. We now have little to no confidence in the trail bike initiative and feel if DSE is willing to offer us a sollution we saw merit in and then change it after group discussion has finished we cannot trust them. This was an obvious ploy to get us on side while most likely never intending to deliver.
Those of you that have not already signed up as a VTRN supporter please do so by going to the following link-
http://www.vtrn.mototrials.com.au/support.htmBruce Dupe
Coordinator
Victorian Trail Riders Network
