A great project!
Successful
Plenty Gorge Park mountain bike trail program
Formalise mountain bike trails and access in Plenty Gorge Park
SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
Project details
Suggested by: Nathan (Plenty Gorge MTB Club)
Project partner: Parks Victoria
Region
Northern Metro
Budget
Votes
411 votes received
Spread the word
Before participating in Pick My Project please log in or register to YourSAy.
Mountain biking (MTB) is a nature-based sport that is experiencing a rapid increase in popularity and participation. The Plenty Gorge Park (PGP) is immediately surrounded by the Whittlesea, Nillumbik, Darebin and Banyule communities (550k+ population), and the MTB trail (~21km) delivered by this project will enable formal access for all levels of MTB users from beginners & families to intermediate enthusiasts; not only to the immediate surrounding communities, but also to the Greater Melbourne region. This project will enable and encourage MTB access on safe, well-planned, marked and maintained trails and protect significant vegetation, habitat, and cultural values in PGP.
Represented by the PGMTB Club in collaboration with Parks Victoria, this project is currently an approved but unfunded opportunity in the Plenty Gorge Park Master Plan that will contribute towards the key objective of increasing park awareness and involvement.
Formalising a MTB trail network in PGP will contribute to nature-based visitor experiences which will encourage active recreation in nature, while protecting conservation objectives, making MTB accessible to the local community.
With PGP's unique landscape and its location in a growing community, this project will respond to the community’s interests and needs, enabling open space access in a beautiful, natural setting.
SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
Project details
Suggested by: Nathan (Plenty Gorge MTB Club)
Project partner: Parks Victoria
Region
Northern Metro
Budget
Votes
411 votes received
Spread the word
Before participating in Pick My Project please log in or register to YourSAy.
Comments
Comments closed
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Awesome place. But Sean or Emerson. There are some things we need. No.1 signed areas and a few maps at big places like water tank. Queens gardens or kiraboo grove. No.2 maintained trails and maintenance days maybe once a month or whenever is available. No.3 we need to get some races into the gorge!!!! Maybe not telivised but definitly could be streamed to a channel or something. And also miscellaneous things such as demo days from different bike brands. Get em it here. 👍👍 can’t wait to see the result
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All the way up to Bridge Inn Rd please and budget for ongoing maintenance including annual Gorge MTB National Televised Race on C31......
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Definitely needs signage. Good tracks close to the suburbs. Great way to get people outdoors ,MTB is an awesome sport for all.
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Great initiative, thumbs up!
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No brainer, look at the examples...derby in tassi...Rotorua in nz. It’s all good. For the community, in health, wealth & happiness
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So wish I could vote for this project but it is outside my area but my family loves to visit Plenty Gorge Park. Please fund this project!!
Hi Eowyn. You are able to vote for this project even if you live elsewhere in Victoria. If you set your local community to "Plenty VIC", then you should be able to add our project to your shortlist. Thanks!
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As long as the dirt tracks are still available too, because dirt tracks are fun to ride on and are different from. Please don't use concrete or asphalt tracks. They are too invasive. The dirt tracks that we have are great. At most gravel would be good to ride on. I love the untouched aspect of the gorge and it is fun to explore the park in the off-track parts of it, especially close to the river. I would really like that aspect of the park to be preserved.
Hi James,
There is no intention to install asphalt, concrete or gravel paths in the heart of the park. That is not what MTB riding is about.
This project's goal is to enable and encourage MTB access on well-planned, marked and maintained trails and protect significant vegetation, habitat, and cultural values in PGP. This would be achieved and implemented by the project through assessments (cultural heritage and environmental) as well as through a design and planning phase.
The project will be assessing ~21km of the existing informal trail network in the Yellow Gum area of Plenty Gorge Park.
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Really need the the tracks marked so we know where we're going,sick of riding around in circles
Sorry to hear that Dazza123. Signage will certainly help in that regard.
If you can, come join us on our social rides (Tuesday night and 3rd Sunday morning of each month) to get a better feel for the network.
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Really looking forwards to this location being preserved for mixed MTB and walking activities. Something like the You Yang trail network with the low key signage would be great.
Thanks Ozzie. This will certainly be part of the design and planning required to deliver this project successfully.
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Please don't urbanise Plenty Gorge Park.
I have regularly walked the footpaths and trails in the park for the past few years. It has been a delight to discover for myself the river crossing points and the unmarked trails which lead through the habitat of kangaroos, swamp wallabies, wombats, brown snakes and other creatures. It's the nearest thing to wilderness we have in these parts, and a unique resource. If these trails were "improved" and signposted, the pleasure of being lost in nature would be destroyed.
Within the past few years, a few signs have been added to the park. Some, such as the "Cobb & Co Track" sign beside the concrete bike path on the south rim of the park are quite appropriate. But others, such as the "Janefield North Spur Track" sign more in the park heartland, are out of place and diminish the amenity, because they drag us out of nature into urban living.
I want other walkers and bikers to use and enjoy the park. This could be aided by signage or trail maps on the park fringes, which are already urbanised. But please let the park heartland remain untouched (apart from basic maintenance of wash-outs and tree falls etc) so that users can enjoy the rare pleasures of discovering the wilderness and leaving civilisation completely behind.
Valid concerns AndyBeanstalk.
One of the primary reasons behind the signage that you are referring to was to allow clear points of reference for fire management. Not all vehicle tracks are signed, only those required for fire management.
There is no intention to install concrete paths in the heart of the park. That is not what MTB riding is about.
This project's goal is to enable and encourage MTB access on well-planned, marked and maintained trails and protect significant vegetation, habitat, and cultural values in PGP. This would be achieved and implemented by the project through assessments (cultural heritage and environmental) as well as through a design and planning phase.
There are many different styles of signage that we have seen across the state, Australia and the world. And visual impact in the context of "wilderness" is certainly something to consider.
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I have been riding here for over 20 years, and have seen more and more people travel to the area to ride these trails. There's a great opportunity into making this a mountain bike destination. There could be some lessons learned from QLD's approach to formalised mountain bike parks that are maintained by the state's park authority.
Wow fox81, 20 years is a long time. I am sure Plenty Gorge means a lot to you. We thank you for your insights and support.
Part of this project will be design and plan how the MTB trails will be maintained beyond the delivery of the project. The Plenty Gorge MTB club intends to be able to play a role in this by working with Parks Victoria on establishing approved maintenance activities on the formalised trail network.
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Voted, can't wait for legal trails and facilities!
Thanks Ninazhang! Your vote is a step towards making this a reality.
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This program will be amazing for the whole area. It will engage all age groups, allow people to exercise and have fun.
We share the same view as you MarkOptiz. The park is open to the public to enjoy, and this project will hopefully make it more accessible by the community, while protecting conservation objectives.
Thanks for your support.
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Great spot. Hope it receives extra funding.
Thank's Ray, we hope so to. You're support is one step (vote) towards this being a reality!
Don't forget to share this project with your friends and family and get them to vote to ensure the success of this project.
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I live next to the gorge and love riding over there. Great trails and i love to see the wild life. I have recommended the gorge to lots of people, so i think if it was chosen it would attract more people to the area which in turn means more more money being put back in to the community.
Thank for sharing and recommending Plenty Gorge to others, Ken6. We love all that the park has to offer. Ensuring safe access for the people and the park's values is an important balance and aspect that this project is looking to achieve.
If the community benefits financially as well, then that's a bonus.
Please share this project with your friends and family and get them to vote to ensure the success of this project.
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I ride Plenty Gorge MTB trails every week. I love the wild life and the great bushland
As you've point out, Plenty Gorge is a great area to enjoy and explore. Thanks for your support Willsy.
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Absolutely love Plenty Gorge for mountain biking, I ride the trails nearly every weekend. Such great diversity, an amazing place so close to suburbia. This place needs to be preserved and have balance with available trail infrastructure. I don’t want to move from the area purely for having this opportunity at our door step😊
Thanks mgwalker. It's great to hear you're already enjoying PGP. Let's hope we can ensure we and future generations will also be able continue to enjoy access to the park in a sustainable manner.
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A hidden gem in the North that deserves funding and better recognition!
Plenty Gorge Park is very unique isn't it, JoeGray.
It would be great if we can balance MTB community access to PGP as well as ensure our access does not apply pressure that is detrimental to the long term survival of the ecosystem. And we hope that this project is a step towards ensuring this.
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Great idea, looking forward to it!!
Anthony_16, we're pleased to hear that you feel that is is a great idea.
Thank you for your support and we hope that we can announce some good news in the near future. Keep spreading the word about the project 👍
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I use the gorge every few days to ride. It is such a good location with so much space and potential. One thing i hear so often is people wanting to go but dont want to get lost and want to experience as much as possible. Having dedicated trails and maps along with more options for some flow trails and more variety will attract more people to the park. There is a large enough coumnity who ride here that is 100% deserves more facilities. I can not wait to have a tap there so i can fill up my water and not having to bring extra from home.
Thank your for your comments and sharing your views. We appreciated your support!
Making MTB accessible to all of the community is one of the goals for this project. And we plan to do this by partnering with Parks Victoria and be inline with respecting cultural heritage significant values and protecting environmental features.
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Plenty Gorge mountain bike partk can and deserves to be a huge tourist dtawcard, bringing in revenue to the northern suburbs Just look at what Tassie is doing with Maydena and Blue Derby, With improved planning and investment, we can all reap the benefits of staying healthy and .enjoying nature, and heritage of this great region.
Thanks for your comment and insights Dejams. It is true that Maydena and Blue Derby have great economic benefits for the surrounding communities. And perhaps this is a key factor for those communities.
Our key driver is to encourage active recreation in nature, while protecting conservation objectives, making MTB accessible to the local community. And if the surrounding businesses also benefit, then that's a bonus!
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(550M+ population).... that's a lot of people! You may want to edit the proposal :-)
Good pickup Vdb_peter! 🤣
The 'K' and 'M' character on the keyboard are very close. Unfortunately we are unable to edit the proposal, but we think the idea of being surround by a growing community is still valid.
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A great project, just what is needed to get people of all ages outdoors and keeping fit physically and mentally.
Thanks for your comment Dsnell. Your support means a lot!
We hope that this project will encourage more people to get active and enjoy all that the park has to offer.
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Jcostin
17 Sep 2018
A great place to ride, signage would be awesome and make it a lot more fun