Our bike park is now official

A campaign to establish the project started in 2019 with a group building tracks for bike enthusiasts to enjoy.

However at that time, the group did not realise that a development application (DA) had to be lodged for the works and it wasn't until 2020 that a DA was finally submitted to council.

Dungog council gave the project its stamp of approval at Wednesday, February 21 meeting.

Member of the Dungog Common Recreation Reserve board Howard Glenn addressed councillors prior to the council meeting.

"When five years ago, community bike riders built cycle tracks, they did it with the best motives, but without observing the raft of laws that are involved in managing and planning the use of land," he said.

"Today is a culmination of the process of sorting this out.

"The 68-page report you have before you tonight recommending the approval of the cycle tracks is the culmination of many people's work in ensuring that the use of the Dungog Common for this form of recreation is safe, lawful, enjoyable and lasting.

"The reason I am attending to speak in favour of the development application tonight is to acknowledge in particular the work of council's planning staff, for helping find solutions to the challenges thrown up by the community's enthusiasm for quality cycling facilities."

The motion was passed unanimously with both councillor Digby Rayward and Mayor John Connors speaking in support of it.

"This is a comprehensive report that has been required obviously. There were quite a lot of hoops, administrative stuff to work through," Cr Rayward said.

"The outcome for this council is very positive and I've been getting feedback from people I don't even know in Newcastle when I'm there on business meetings.

"This is another great addition to our Shire and well done to everyone."

This sentiment was mirrored by Cr Connors.

"It's been a long, outstanding matter.

"In 2021 we saw the development application.

"It was in October of 2020 that this council passed a resolution in support of Ride Dungog and mountain bike riding in the common," he said.

"This is the culmination of a lot of people to formalise what's been there."

In the report, council staff say that the mountain bike park has had a positive impact on Dungog's economy and culture.

Although this doesn't affect the existing bike trails it allows the construction of two new flow tracks.