Category Archives: Media

Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area hosts State, National and even some features of Global significance. A recent nomination of the reserve’s special features has been accepted by NSW’s Environmental Agency Head for consideration as an Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value THE Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area (SCA) has been nominated to the state government asContinue reading “PRESS RELEASE | Mount Canobolas to be Area of Outstanding Biodiversity Value?”

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 theContinue 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 thatContinue 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. LETTERContinue 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.Continue 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 alreadyContinue 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 JulyContinue 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 atContinue reading “PRESS REPORT | Mounting issues: Environmental, Indigenous concerns raised over bike plan”

The Draft Plan of Management for Mount Canobolas State Conservation area is available for public submissions until 1st October 2018. The Draft states that according to the forecasts commissioned by Orange City Council, a proposed new mountain biking centred on the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area would attract about 50,000 visitors annually. Read the fullContinue reading “PRESS REPORT | Mount Canobolas bike park would attract 50,000 people a year: draft plan”

The benefits of cycling, in the right places, are not in question, but local environmentalists are urging people to make their opinions known that Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area is not an appropriate place to construct a mountain biking park.