Bushwalk Australia

Hi,

I just received a letter from the Hobart city council confirming that the Old Farm Track on Mt Wellington is currently being rezoned as a downhill bikers only track and that walkers will no longer be able to use that track to get down to Old Farm Road. I was wondering how many walkers are aware of this issue. I know that my parents use this track as it is hard on their knees to go down all the steps on Myrtle Gully track. Myself, I have seen the degradation on Radfords track and I do not think this should happen to Old Farm Track. I am happy for shared use, but I feel that the extra speeds used on a bike only track will rip up the track and open it up for erosion. The council's idea of informing people was to put a notice on the track for a month or two. I feel that there are many walkers out there who rotate their walks and still desire to use this track that have missed this notice. What are your thoughts?

Information is provided online here:

http://www.hobartcity.com.au/Council/Ab ... bike_track

http://www.hobartcity.com.au/files/1d61 ... FT-Map.pdf

So the proposed changes still allows shared access via Old Farm Fire Trail.

Respecfully, I am not sure if you have walked down Old Farm Fire trail to Main Fire trail? It is incredibly steep and slippery with lots of loose gravel and small rocks, and even for those who are fit without any physical issues you would need to go slowly, for someone with bad knees, bad back etc it is quite dangerous. I have two bulging discs and I love to walk regularly, even happily walk on challenging areas that are steep, but I need purchase and stability in the surface of the track, not something that gives away under my feet. I have walked down that track twice. The second time because I forgot how dreadful it was in the first place. Steep is not a problem if you have purchase but it is all loose rocks and gravel. Many of the walkers that I see regularly walking in groups on the mountain are retirees and they often meet at Junction Cabin and then walk down. There is no way that this track is suitable for them or myself. I feel that the mountain is for everyone as long as we respect the environment. I don't think that this change is good for the environment or allows the people who have been using it quite happily for the last 50 years to continue to do so.

I think it should remain a shared track. Some have said that the bike lobbyists are a stronger voice and that is why these changes have been made, so I wanted to ask bushwalkers who use the area what they think and did they know about it.

I live about 100m from the start of the main fire trail, probably only about 1km from the Old Farm Fire trail junction.
So I've probably walked it, myrtle gully is much nicer. Although I don't get out and walk the trails on the mountain often enough.
I'm not a hard core mountain biker either, but I'd be more inclined to go for a ride on those trails as opposed to a walk.

So as a bushwalker - ( I do lot's of hiking - mostly in the South West WHA)

I know quite a few people in the mountain biking community, many of them are also avid bushwalkers, climbers etc of all ages.
They're motivated and willing to put many unpaid hours of their own time into a project like this, particularly in terms of track construction and ongoing maintenance.
I've been to places like Queenstown in NZ, Whistler in Canada and I know they have awesome mountain bike trails and facilities, our local riding community is asking why can't we have a little bit of that here too? Walkers are already well catered for.
The mountain is hardly a pristine wilderness and I believe it is under utilised. More people are going to get out there and enjoy it if it caters for a wider audience of users.
Much better to have some sensible development on the mountain than carving up the WHA.
I disagree with the comments regarding a shared track particularly with this developments intended purpose, it would be very dangerous for both users due to the nature of 'downhill mountain biking'.
Some people want to go for a relaxing walk, others a nice sedate ride, some people want to ride downhill fast and mangle themselves airborne into a tree.. each to their own really.

I first rode my mountain bike down the mountain about 25 years ago as a young Scout, which is also how to got introduced into Bushwalking, Climbing and a variety of outdoor pursuits.
I think there is room to support multiple user groups.

If the sign is there on the track and no one has formally raised their concerns with the council because they've not seen it, kind of implies the current usage by walkers is somewhat limited?
I'd much prefer our park supports a range of different usages and healthy outdoor pursuits.. better than having some bored kids setting fire to the bush behind my house, which would be bad for the environment and me.

I have no issues with the proposal. Your well within your rights to lodge an objection and I have no issues with that.

It's worth noting too that Old Farm Fire Trail will still be open for walking which reconnects to Old Farm Track further up the hill where it will remain open to walkers. Old Farm Fire Trail is only a few hundred metres further north along Main Fire Trail (opposite the start of the Tip Top mountain bike track).

I ride up Old Farm Fire Trail every now and then and it's easier (as far as purchase) than Old Farm Track which is why I ride that particular way to junction cabin. Having said that, I wouldn't want to walk down either of those tracks. If I were worried about my knees I would definitely use Myrtle Gully Track!

Consultation results are up:
http://www.hobartcity.com.au/Council/Ab ... bike_track

As a walker and mountain biker, I have a different issue, which is that this cuts out the only reasonable way to ride up to Junction Cabin - via Springs and North/South is a long way round, Myrtle Gully is (rightly) walkers only, Old Farm Fire Trail is stupidly steep, and Breakneck is walkers only and stupidlier steep.
The Greater Hobart MTB Plan was supposed to focus on creating networks, where this actually breaks the network.