Whitianga Bike Club Annual Report to Sponsors and Supporters

WHITIANGA BIKE CLUB ANNUAL REPORT TO SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS FOR YEAR ENDING 31 MAY 2012

After nine years of effort we now have a bike park that is providing visitors and the local population with a fun area that is also a challenge. As we commented on last year, our visitors now are not just bike riders but walkers wanting to visit the Kauri Grove, picnickers using the BQ, runners who train on the trails, frizz bee players and a special type of golf. We have a very versatile park that is 2 km from the centre of town; you can ride to it walk to it or if you must drive to it. Mind you we do understand that some do have a lot of bikes to bring to the park and one father towed his boat full of bike to the site!

Usage of the park has increased considerably especially the young on the BMX and Pump Tracks. In school holiday periods we can expect daily 30+ riders enjoying themselves. At the summer holidays there are many from out of town arriving daily and trying out the challenges.

The BMX track has really hardened up and by covering the parts on the hills with artificial turf donated by the Whitianga Bowling Club the rain does not affect it too much. The gravel surface is wearing and next month we will add further gravel to reduce wear on the clay surface. In addition to riders just having fun, local social groups have arranged races and training here, and one such event that was photographed, featured in the Corrections Department Newsletter since their teams had been so instrumental in both construction and maintenance.

The Pump track alongside the BMX caters for those who try and ride without pedaling. A pumping action on the handle bars keeps them going. We had hoped to add more hills but so far there is no spare material to do this. Young and old still get fun on it.

The Skill Zone of elevated planks to ride on is as popular as ever. Its location beside the main car park means parents can sit in their car and watch.

The MTB trails during the summer were firm and dry but in the last month the rain has made some of them hard to ride. We will be tiding them up in the next month weather permitting. They are very popular with both locals and out of towners. The changing populations in Whitianga Town results in fewer men to help work on the trails as the school leavers have moved away for education and work. They still have a good time when home to catch up on their family. We do not plan any new trails but will be repairing some bridges and putting logs on the really soggy parts of trail so they can be ridden over.

The financial accounts show a positive direction. Whilst the profit for the year shows as $947, but of this $700 was from Ground Effect to help get a bigger mower. This has been a great help in keeping the grass around the BMX Track and BQ area. Donations from the public rose and subscriptions fell. We give very little value to a member to justify a subscription. Map sales increased but sponsors for the park decreased. Rent and insurance remain our biggest administration cost and materials, fuel for equipment and weed killer the biggest trail costs. As can be seen we remain dependant of grants and donations, some of which are in cash and some in kind such as the materials for the new drinking fountain from Edward Gibbon, considerable help and expertise from Sonny Browne in Coroglen, toilet cleaning by Bob’s Takeaways, shrubs from Whitianga Lions and signs from Whitianga Signs. These all help to make it what it is.

We are planning low level ride decks for the very young that arrive with older members of their family. It will introduce these riders to the real thing. We have been given old seats by TCDC so parents can watch the riders. We are indebted to Noel Hewlett and his brother Ray who continue to mow grass, dig drains and keep the surrounds in good shape look after the arboretum and Bruce Chambers continues with a big input into ongoing planning both financial and on-site. We thank them for their ongoing support.

We invite you to come and see our progress.

Your Committee:

Matt Highway (Chair),Noel Hewlett (Secretary), Garth Scott, Tina Clark, Greg Clark, Karl Fisher, Benson Lockhart.

2 August 2012.