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Mountain bike riding in QPWS managed areas

Operational policies provide a policy direction or set operational standards for day-to-day management, including a framework for consistent application and interpretation of legislation by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Department of Environment and Resource Management.

1 Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide an overview of the management of mountain bike riding (MTB) on Queensland Parks and Wildlife (QPWS) managed areas, including:
• where mountain bike riding can occur on QPWS managed areas
• what permits and other approvals may be required
• when and how QPWS engages with interest groups on MTB management, trail construction and maintenance.

Appendix 1 includes definitions of the terms used in this policy.

2 Policy statements

2.1 QPWS recognises that mountain bike riding is a legitimate use of QPWS managed areas and will actively promote the activity to the public where suitable facilities and opportunities exist.

2.2 QPWS will work collaboratively with other land managers, government agencies, Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA) and other representative groups to plan, provide and manage mountain bike activity across Queensland.

2.3 Mountain bike riding opportunities will be provided on designated multi-use trails and purpose-built MTB single-use tracks where possible.

2.4 QPWS will adopt and implement IMBA standards for trail classification and signage unless specific standards are developed. QPWS will collaborate with MTBA, other land managers and user groups on the development and adoption of any such standard.

2.5 Cross-country and touring styles of riding are generally considered to be the most appropriate form of mountain biking in national parks however more active riding opportunities may be provided in suitable QPWS managed areas.
Photo courtesy
2.6 Restricted opportunities for competitive riding will be allowed provided QPWS assessment criteria are met. These will usually occur in QPWS managed areas other than national park but may be authorised on national parks where a lack of suitable alternatives exist.

2.7 Downhill riding may be allowed on a restricted basis where no suitable alternatives are available and/or long-term MTB use is recognised and supported. This activity will not usually be provided in national parks unless extenuating circumstances or local conditions exist e.g. a previously disturbed area is assessed as being suitable.

2.8 QPWS may enter into agreements with incorporated groups to construct, maintain and/or manage mountain bike tracks and facilities on QPWS managed area.

2.9 Approved technical trail features (TTF’s) may be incorporated on purpose-built MTB single-use tracks or other places as considered appropriate. Technical trail features should be constructed in accordance with International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) design principles or other approved QPWS design and should be consistent with the trail classification and/or expected skill level of potential users. Where feasible alternate routes (“B lines”) should be established around more difficult technical features.
3 Background

QPWS supports recreation activities which are consistent with the management principles for protected areas and forests, and which are sustainable. QPWS encourages a whole-of-landscape approach to recreational supply and works with other land managers to promote appropriate uses of parks and forests.

Recreational activities in QPWS managed areas are administered in accordance with management principles under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and Forestry Act 1959. These principles support nature-based activities in a variety of protected areas while protecting the areas cultural and natural resource values.

Additionally, the Master Plan for Queensland’s Parks System emphasises that the parks system is to be managed to support a range of styles of nature-based recreation, and that management should provide a variety of settings catering for different visitors without compromising conservation outcomes.

3.1 Mountain biking trends and needs

Mountain bike riding has become an extremely popular recreation activity since its development in the 1980s. There is broad recognition that riding opportunities are poorly catered for in many areas of Australia, including Queensland.

Primary demand is for quality track catering for rides of 1- 3 hours within close proximity to population centres. Many QPWS managed areas currently, or have the potential to, support cross-country style riding. Limited opportunities are also available for downhill, touring and freestyle types of riding.

Several areas provide MTB single-use tracks, with the best examples at Daisy Hill, Bunyaville and Tewantin while many other managed areas provide access to multi-use trails on fire breaks and management roads.

QPWS manages a number of reserves in close proximity to urban population centres that could provide opportunities for new or expanded MTB single-use tracks, especially where this formalises existing unauthorised track construction.

Where State Forests or other land tenures become protected areas existing or potential MTB opportunities will be maintained wherever practicable provided the use is sustainable.

Technical trail features (TTF) enhance the character and difficulty of trails and include bridges, logs, rock drops and berms. These are often removed or avoided on QPWS managed areas and other public lands due to safety and liability concerns. However, TTFs can be suitable, if not desirable, to include in a MTB single-use tracks if properly designed and constructed. Design standards from IMBA or other agencies may be utilised and approved by QPWS as required.

4 Management of MTB activities in QPWS managed areas

4.1 Access

Mountain bike riding is allowed in QPWS managed areas:
• on all dedicated roads
• in Protected Areas:
- on MTB single-use tracks, and
- on multiple-use tracks (where riding is a recognised use), and
- on QPWS managed roads (unless prohibited by regulatory notice)
• in State Forests, Timber Reserves and Forest Reserves:
- on roads, single-use tracks and multiple-use tracks as prescribed by a regulatory notice
• on the Bicentennial National Trail (BNT)
• in other places where authorised by a Management Plan.
• In other areas where special circumstances exist and approved under a separate authority. Such extraordinary situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

4.2 Assessing suitability of MTB activities in QPWS managed areas

When assessing the appropriateness, or suitability, of mountain biking in a particular park or forest QPWS will take into account the following assessment criteria;
• land tenure – conservation status and natural and cultural values of the area,
• site sustainability – assessment of the sites biophysical, managerial and social carrying capacity,
• compatibility with other activities.
• safety – risk assessment of the potential safety implications of MTB activity in the area,
• the landscape setting, and
• Affiliation/involvement with local MTB stakeholders e.g. club, individuals, etc.

Cross country and touring styles of riding will generally be catered for, while limited opportunities will be provided for other styles including downhill and freestyle.

Special considerations need to be made when assessing MTB events to ensure potential impacts from spectators and event management requirements are adequately covered as these may have greater environmental or managerial impacts than the actual MTB activity.

4.3 Public information
QPWS will provide information on where mountain bike riding can occur on its reserves through visitor guides and information, signage and the DERM website www.derm.qld.gov.au.

Iconic riding areas or high quality MTB facilities will be actively promoted by QPWS in conjunction with the community, partners and other agencies. Internationally-recognised trail classification and signage standards have been developed by IMBA for mountain biking. These standards are used by most land managers however variations may be developed in the future that are more applicable to QPWS (eg a Queensland Government trail standard). IMBA standards should be used until such time as another system is adopted.

There are recognised issues associated with consistency in interpretation of IMBA trail classification standards and where uncertainty or conjecture exists as to the level a track should be classified advice should be sought from suitable people (including those in MTBA-affiliated groups).

4.3 Permits and approvals

Commercial operations
A permit or agreement is required to undertake any commercial activity on QPWS managed areas. These may include regular commercial tours etc. or one-off events. As per the QPWS policy on Commercial Activities in QPWS-managed Areas any event where entrance fees are charged and/or prizes awarded will be considered a commercial activity unless assessed otherwise. Usually where fees are only charged to cover basic costs such as insurance or temporary facilities these will not usually be considered commercial.

Group activities
Certain events (e.g. formal club rides) may require a group activity permit. This includes groups of more than 15 riders where they impact on other users but will be determined on a case by case basis.

Permit to Traverse
Permits to Traverse for MTBs are no longer required in areas managed under the Forestry Act 1959
Authorities to construct, maintain or manage MTB facilities QPWS may enter into agreements with incorporated bodies such as clubs or local authorities for the construction, maintenance and use of MTB single-use track and other facilities. A site-specific MTB management plan or similar should be developed as part of any such agreement.

Where QPWS allows the establishment of MTB single-use tracks, they will be constructed and maintained in accordance with relevant standards and guidelines applicable to QPWS at the time, and may include MTB trail design standards produced by IMBA. They will be planned in consultation with, and authorised by, QPWS prior to the commencement of any construction.

5 QPWS sustainable management of mountain bike riding

QPWS recognises that the ecological and social impacts of mountain bike riding are affected by the track type and construction standard, soil type, climate and rainfall, predominant riding style, group size and the number of bikes that use an area. Other factors that could cause impacts include other users e.g. horses (on multipurpose tracks) and illegal use e.g. trail bikes.

To ensure any use of an area is sustainable, QPWS will manage the environmental, social or amenity impacts from mountain bike riding through use of suitable trail design and construction standards, setting limits on numbers of riders where necessary, and monitoring use for possible impacts.

In recognising the special nature of some mountain bike activity or facilities QPWS will, where practicable and appropriate, collaborate with representative groups or stakeholders to determine management requirements for particular sites.

6 Community and stakeholder engagement

QPWS will actively engage with relevant stakeholders including the Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation, the Australian Mountain Bike Association, relevant recreational and commercial interests and other land managers to identify and develop opportunities for mountain bike riding and its management on parks and forests. In particular, QPWS will maintain active membership of the State MTB Forum while appropriate.

QPWS may establish volunteer trail care programs with groups or individuals to construct or maintain tracks or other mountain bike-related activities. Volunteer trail care programs will generally be managed by local regional staff in accordance with agency volunteer procedures.

7 Reference materials

Group activity permits – operational policy
Public liability insurance, indemnity, release and discharge requirements - operational policy
Commercial activities in QPWS-managed areas - operational policy

Disclaimer:
While this document has been prepared with care it contains general information and does not profess to offer legal, professional or commercial advice. The Queensland Government accepts no liability for any external decisions or actions taken on the basis of this document. Persons external to the Department of Environment and Resource Management should satisfy themselves independently and by consulting their own professional advisors before embarking on any proposed course of action.