New mountain bike tracks for the whole family are just what Nelson needs. So community workers are creating a meandering network of tracks in the bush - ready for summer.
The Nelson Mountain Bike Club and the Nelson City Council mooted this idea with Community Probation & Psychological Services regional office in Nelson. “We try to find projects that are worthwhile. And the making of these tracks just benefits everyone,” says Martin Cleland, Nelson’s Environmental Reserves Supervisor.
Chris Mildon of the Nelson Mountain Bike Club: “I scope and set the proposed track by working through the bush with a machete and marking tape. The community workers follow this marking, cleaning out the scrub and forming the benched trails as they go. A good day will see between 250 and 400 metres of trail completed.
“We’ve created six kilometres of undulating track already. The offenders are really enthusiastic about the project and proud of their work. Often they will try the tracks out for themselves in their spare time, even bring their kids along in the weekends.”
The whole range
“Weekly we have four crews of ten offenders working on the tracks,” says Nelson Senior Community Work Supervisor Jeff Holden.
“We started in the Upper Tantragee area. It’s very hard work but the offenders get real satisfaction from their work because they can see the results.
“And people are using the tracks already. This circuit loops around New Zealand’s first railway track and for that reason will attract a lot of tourists as well.”
Martin agrees. “Nelson is becoming one of the major mountain bike areas in New Zealand. We already had the very low level 'nana' tracks and the very technical alpine ones. The community workers are now creating an intermediate network of tracks. The council would never have been able to afford this without their help. And it’s just great to see the tracks already being used!”
Big difference
This network of tracks will probably be finished in September: And then there’s another one waiting on the other side of the mountain called the Barnicoat MTB Project. The Barnicoat trail network is intended to cater for riders with a level between intermediate and more experienced. The trail will be constructed in a natural bush valley in some pretty difficult terrain.
This will also be the largest MTB specific project the Nelson City Council has undertaken in partnership with the Nelson MTB Club, and will be a real asset to the region. That will probably keep the community workers busy until the end of the year.
“The offenders have made a big difference to the Nelson community. And the tourists will also be flocking in to use the tracks,” Martin expects.
Summer is looking good for Nelson!
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ISSN 1178-1327