MTB opportunities in Whitireia Park

Management PlanNovember, 2014

Introduction• Mana Cycle Group is a charitable club which develops MTB facilities and

advocates for improved cycling of all kinds.

• We have 390 Facebook followers.

• Many of our members are already regular riders in Whitireia Park.

• Our objective at this stage is to ensure Whitireia Park’s new Management Plan allows for the fantastic potential for high quality sustainable MTB tracks in a manner that supports all other park stakeholder needs.

• By working with landowners and stakeholders to build approved MTB tracks, MCG can reduce the incidence of informal tracks being dug without consent. This is an issue in Porirua/Tawa because this part of the region has been devoid of approved tracks.

• MCG is currently focused on developing a Mountainbike park at RangituhiColonial Knob. We are not seeking to dilute that effort. However, we are aware there are many MTBers who live close to Whitireia Park who would be keen to help build tracks there if a track project was approved and consented.

How MTB tracks will be positive for the park

• Attract a new group of park users. The existing tracks are not regionally significant and therefore do not in themselves attract people from very far.

• Increase the Family friendly singletracks in the region.

• Engage new local community members in work and care for the park.

• Create a new recreational and event venue resource for local schools.

• Improve the quality of the Porirua Grand Traverse and GW’s annual community cycling event in the park.

• Attract more charitable funding to park projects.

• Improve access for volunteer pest control activity.

• Improve access for fire response.

• There are 24,000 Mountain Bikers in Wellington region

35,000 internationals had MTB’d in NZ YE June 2013, +52% on 2009.

How MTB tracks will be positive for the park

• High usage due to close proximity to urban population, unlike Stratton Street, Battle Hill and Akatarawas.

• Facilitate lower income populations getting into biking. Most of the region’s MTB tracks require a car trip or are close to higher income populations (Karori, Mt Vic, Brooklyn, Miramar)

• Most tracks would be multi-use for walkers, runners.

• Sustainable MTB Track building is becoming a globally demanded skill that can be taught through volunteer parties, engaging youth in positive activity and creating career opportunities.

• Economic development – create demand for expanded cycle retail, rental and tours near the park, grow business for all retail in the area.

• One of the few areas in Wellington that MTBers could take their dogs.

Whitireia Park MTB Track Attributes

• It would provide the best proximity to the sea of all Wellington region singletrack. (QE2 coastal route has many nasty pinch-climbs putting off kids and the less fit).

• Can connect to Rangituhi Colonial Knob MTB Park and Te Ara Roa Walkway.

• Very easy terrain/geology for track construction

Current Issues for Biking in the Park

• The Coastal track could be made easier to ride for beginners with some re-surfacing and options to avoid having to lift bikes over gates.

• The inland route section descending to Onehunga Beach is very steep resulting in tyre skidding and it’s very difficult to ride up. This will mean ongoing damage and maintenance.

• To get from Onehunga Beach to Titahi Bay by bike means going up the very steep narrow road with high risk of car conflict.

MTB Track Objectives• Avoid impacts to Pa’s other cultural sites such as the garden terraces.• Plot tracks as soon as possible before the gorse makes most areas

impassable and to avoid planting where a track will be.• Ensure the trails compliment the golf course and other park users,

walkers, runners, horse-riders, model aircraft, kitesurfers, rock-climbers, beach users etc.

• Design trails that take advantage of the sensation of flying over the sea.• Create tracks that are more fun, especially for kids and families having

their first singletrack MTB experiences. This means easier slopes but rather than boring constant gradients, provide frequent grade reversals to give a gentle rollercoaster effect.

• Create a safe easy alternative up from Onehunga Beach to get bikes off the road and away from vehicle danger.

• Build tracks with sustainable design, that shed water and therefore do not erode or get muddy. Proactive planting to shield any areas of visual impact.

• Consult closely with Whitireia Restoration Group to try to plot tracks that also support volunteer access for planting, pest and weed control.

Track options (Intro)

• Following we present a series of possible tracks shown on 3 separate maps.

• These are based on our knowledge riding and walking the park.

• We look forward to feedback through the management plan process from Iwi, the board, managing rangers and other park users to refine these concepts.

• The lines are just rough hand-drawn routes on the map. Exact routes would require accurate piloting with inclinometers to ensure ideal gradient and avoidance of sensitive sites.

• The expectation is that this list may be cut if there are conflicts; and implemented in trialled stages over a long-term period.

Track options (see next map)

• Coastal Traverse - an easy uphill/dual direction from the sea-level road up to Mt Cooper, traversing above the cliffs. This gets bikes off the road which is too steep to be fun, and dangerous with vehicles).

• Plateau – an easy gradient alternative to the steep, eroding inland trail up from the Onehunga Beach Carpark, heading for the summit and south along the plateau, dropping down the ridgeline but avoiding the Te Onepoto Pa site).

• Gloaming Traverse - below Gloaming hill houses traversing through the scrub towards the line of pines beside the golf course and joining the inland track and Golf Traverse. This would create easier access for volunteer pest/weed control and planting)

Coastal Traverse

Gloaming Traverse

Plateau

Track options (Continued)

• Inland/Golf Traverse - from the big concrete carpark at the top dropping south and traversing the hillside towards the eastern mast, skirting the golf course and meeting the existing inland trail and the Gloaming Traverse.

• Te Kahikatoa View – From Plateau an easy descent out skirting the lower plateau by Te Kahikatoa Pa site. This takes you back to look down on the sea, and it opens a bait-line through the gorse which is taking over this area.

Golf Traverse

Te Kahikatoa View

Track options (Continued)

• MTB Baitline – from Plateau’s high-point cutting along the south-western side of the ridge high above the existing inland route. This provides a new baitline for volunteers. It circles a knob and then cuts back in to drop down a u-shaped valley to Onepoto bay to join the bottom of Plateau and he coastal track.

• Marina Downs – intermediate to advanced descents from the mid point of Plateau, down the spurs to the coastal track.

MTB Baitline

Marina Downs