Author Archives: SAVE Mt Canobolas SCA

Mountain bike tourism beats a path to Mount Canobolas, but boom could have conservation downsides. ABC Central West radio. By Micaela Hambrett.  4 September 2018. Dr Richard Medd, a former government ecologist, said he had grave concerns for the proposed trail development’s ecological consequences. “There’s species we know about which aren’t named yet. It’s an incredibly importantContinueContinue reading “ABC NEWS | Mountain bike tourism boom – conservation downsides”

Soils, vegetation, wildlife, water and other visitors are highlighted as degrading impacts from the proposed construction of dedicated mountain biking tracks on the fragile environment of Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area. The potential for introduction of phytopathogens and exotic plants and animals is a real risk. Read the full article on Central Western Daily  ContinueContinue reading “EARTH FIRST | The five areas that would be impacted by trails on the Mount”

The following piece was published by the Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Orange in their weekly ‘Earth First’ column … Standing sentinel over Orange in the cleared landscape of the Central West is a 12-million-year-old volcanic remnant. Mount Canobolas has been dormant since its formative years, but NSW government policy is causing a rumble. This government hasContinueContinue reading “EARTH FIRST | There’s plenty of dollars but little sense in Mount Canobolas proposal”

Cultural and biodiversity values of the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area are under threat from local mountain bikers who want to construct over 60 km of purpose-built tracks in the small reserve. The gazettal of the reserve for nature conservation, because of its outstanding ecological and cultural heritage values, appears of no importance to theContinueContinue reading “EARTH FIRST | Not the best place for a bike track”

Don’t compare apples with oranges. Mountain biking in Derby Tasmania is one of the comparisons being offered as a ‘model’ for what the industry could do for Orange. The fallacy of this comparison is well articulated in relation to the thriving city of Orange with its renowned food and wine reputation. It is suggested thatContinueContinue reading “LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Preserving Mt Canobolas will draw its own tourists respectful of its uniqueness”

An ecologist AND mountain bike rider speaks of the dangers associated with constructing mountain bike trails and the detrimental damage the trails inflict on the environment. Sensitive areas such as the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area are completely inappropriate for such developments, despite an acknowledgment that recreational riders are by and large responsible citizens. LETTERContinueContinue reading “LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Mount Canobolas proposed mountain bike trail needs further investigation”

Mitchell Bland is right: my letter on the biodiversity of Mount Canobolas did not consider the impacts of mountain biking, as it was not meant to be a formal environmental impact assessment. That may come later if the project gets off the ground and would be a very large and complex exercise, as Mitchell would know.ContinueContinue reading “LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Chance to ‘draw line in sand’ about conservation areas”

Letter to the Editor- Central Western Daily   July 13 2018 – 12:50PM I’m an environmental consultant. My job is to assess the impacts of development proposals on biodiversity values. Most developments readily gain approval because, among other things, they would have negligible consequences for biodiversity. This is because most developments take place on land that has alreadyContinueContinue reading “LETTER TO THE EDITOR | Mount Canobolas shouldn’t have mountain bike trails”

Speakers at a Community Forum held in Orange addressed environmental issues associated with mountain biking.  The gathering heard of the damages bike tracks generate through erosion, siltation of streams, braiding and in particular of the threats to the irreplaceable biodiversity within the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area. Read the full article Central Western Daily JulyContinueContinue reading “PRESS REPORT | Forty people gather to discuss biodiversity”

A Community Forum convened by the Central West Environment Council puts the spotlight on the proposed mountain biking concept for Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area. Speakers from the Nature Conservation Council, the Environmental Defenders Office, National Parks Association, a Wiradjury elder and an ecological consultant will address values of the mountain, providing specialists views atContinueContinue reading “PRESS REPORT | Mounting issues: Environmental, Indigenous concerns raised over bike plan”