Westleigh Park: Hornsby Shire conflict over mountain bike trails

Conflict over mountain bike trails in Sydney’s leafy north shore is heating up once again, with environmental groups claiming they have been left out of the discussion.

Conflict over mountain bike tracks in Sydney’s leafy north shore is heating up once again with environmental groups saying they have been excluded from the co-design process for Westleigh Park’s multimillion-dollar upgrades.

The 36ha precinct has long been a popular spot for mountain bikers because of its mixture of beginner and technical tracks.

These trails existed well before Hornsby Council received a $40 million grant from the NSW Government to purchase the site from Sydney Water in 2016.

As previously reported in the Hornsby Advocate, a 2018 report found 350 sites in the mountain bike trail network were non compliant, dangerous or contributing to environmental impacts leading to calls from council for a significant reduction in the park’s network of bike tracks.

The backlash from local mountain bike clubs led council to set up community consultation workshops about the future of the park, including its network of mountain bike trails.

Local environmental groups protesting the bike trails in Westleigh Park. Picture: Jan Primrose.

But local environmental groups are now claiming their voices have been ignored throughout this co-design process.

Protecting Your Suburban Environment Inc spokeswoman Jan Primrose says she’s calling on Hornsby Council to “fix this mess” and include environmental groups in the design process.

Hornsby Shire Council is planning an ambitious upgrade of Westleigh Park.

“The local conservation groups have a huge amount of knowledge about this site,” Ms Primrose said.

“(So why are we) excluded from the co-design process, while mountain bike experts are included?

“The co-design is not being agreed to by a fair and equitable process, with balanced representation from all interested parties.”

Ms Primrose told The Hornsby Advocate she as not anti-mountain bikes, but believed Westleigh Park should not be home to trails which disturb the native flora and fauna, such as the critically endangered Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark and Blue Gum Diatreme forests.

Endangered Turpentine Ironbark forest in Westleigh Park is home to critically endangered Turpentine-Ironbark forest.

Alleged mountain bike damage to the root system at Westleigh Park.

“There is a huge amount of damage that has already been caused … (and) bringing more bikes in with a formalised track will make the destruction even worse,” Ms Primrose said.

In a statement, a Hornsby Council spokeswoman said council was actively seeking feedback from different community groups.

“Council is working with a range of stakeholders, supported by consultants, on a suitable mountain bike trail alignment at Westleigh Park that will also provide protection for high value biodiversity on the site,” she said.

“We are currently in the planning stages of designing Westleigh Park and there are considerable review and approvals required before a trail alignment will be complete.”

Sydney North Off Road Club (SNORC), a community-based mountain bike club, were approached for comment. An administrator of Westleigh Mountain Bikes Trail Status declined a request for comment.