The mountain bike community fear they are being overlooked by the City of Greater Bendigo following the council’s decision to cut ties with a long-term management plan for trails in the city’s regional parks.
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COGB councillors last week voted to hand over work completed on the Spring Gully Trail Network Master Plan to land owners, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and land managers, Parks Victoria.
However, who funds the plan, which could cost close to $2 million, remains unclear.
Bendigo Mountain Bike Club secretary Barry Floyd said Parks Victoria were not sufficiently resourced to manage recreational activities, especially given some users had created illegal tracks in the past.
Read more: Live | Bendigo Council meeting, December 12
Mr Floyd argued a trail master plan would provide a long-term direction for land users and managers.
He also suggested council should have more responsibility for a recreational pursuit considered the third most popular in the municipality.
“We believe there is a role there for local government but in taking the position that they (councillors) took, we’re left with no other avenue to be able to progress the vision we have for sustainable trails for the region,” he said.
“It’s disappointing.”
Councillor Jennifer Alden, when discussing the master plan at a council meeting last week, said: “The fact is that depending on Parks Victoria’s current and future resources, it (master plan) may not be progressed.”
Cr Andrea Metcalf said the COGB had received criticism for spending money on a proposal for land that it had no control over.
“Expectations have been raised and dashed and the process of getting to here would have left a bitter taste in people's mouths,” she said.
Cr James Williams disagreed and suggested the money spent by the COGB – around $89,000 – was worthwhile.
Parks Victoria acting regional director Daniel McLaughlin said the master plan had yet to be submitted to Parks Victoria for full consideration.
“As the land manager, Parks Victoria will consider relevant planning policies, environmental, biodiversity and cultural assessments, along with views of various user groups and the broader community,” he said.
DELWP was contacted for comment but did not respond before deadline.
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