Roadside Equestrian & Mountain Bike Trails Strategy 2014-2019 July 2014 Acknowledgements Many people have been contributed to the development of the draft and final versions of this report including individual horse riders, bike riders, members of clubs, conservation groups and other stakeholders. Their local knowledge, advice and input has been invaluable and essential to ensuring that the revised roadside trail network reflects current needs and is further developed in a sustainable way and appropriate way. Thank you to the Red Hill Riders for photographs. Roadside Equestrian and Mountain Bike Trails Strategy 2014-2019 2 Table of Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 7 2.0 Strategic Context ................................................................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 Physical and Social Context ................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Mountain Biking (MTB)............................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.2 Horse Riding ........................................................................................................................................................... 12 2.1.3 Walking and Cross-Country Trail Running ................................................................................................ 13 2.1.4 Tourism Operators .............................................................................................................................................. 14 2.2 A Sustainable Trail Network – Managing Natural and Cultural Heritage Values and Risk ........ 15 2.2.1 Roadside Reserves ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 2.3 Relevant Policies and Strategies ........................................................................................................................ 19 3 Consultation to develop strategy ......................................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Stakeholder Issues – Summary .......................................................................................................................... 22 3.3 Online Survey Results ............................................................................................................................................ 23 3.4 Trail User Workshops – Exploring Current Users’ Needs and Issues ................................................. 24 3.4.2 Sharing trails ......................................................................................................................................................... 24 3.4.3 Trail users’ priorities for works ..................................................................................................................... 24 3.4.4 Road safety and road crossings .................................................................................................................... 25 3.4.5 Increasing urban development and possible solutions ...................................................................... 25 3.5 Feedback on the Draft Strategy ........................................................................................................................ 25 4 Trail Assessment ......................................................................................................................................................... 26 4.1 Trail Principles ........................................................................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Trail Assessment Criteria ...................................................................................................................................... 26 4.3 Types of Trails ............................................................................................................................................................ 27 4.3.2 Rail Trail ................................................................................................................................................................... 27 4.3.3 Roadside Trail ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 4.3.4 A sustainable trail maintenance program ................................................................................................ 29 4.3.5 The long distance rides .................................................................................................................................... 30 Roadside Equestrian and Mountain Bike Trails Strategy 2014-2019 3 4.4 Trail Head Facilities ................................................................................................................................................. 30 5 Trail Context................................................................................................................................................................. 32 5.1 Minimising Environmental Risks and Impacts............................................................................................ 32 5.1.2 Looking after the Environment – Minimal Impact Trail Users’ Code ........................................... 33 5.2 Trail Users Code ....................................................................................................................................................... 33 5.3 Reserves where equestrian activities take place ....................................................................................... 34 5.4 Mountain Biking Activity Areas ......................................................................................................................... 35 5.5 Horse Trail Riding Tourism Operators ............................................................................................................ 36 5.6 Trail Entry Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................................... 37 5.6.2 Bollard and cavaletti trail entry barriers .................................................................................................. 37 5.6.3 Horse hitching/ tie up rail ............................................................................................................................... 37 5.7 Road Crossing Trails and Signs ........................................................................................................................... 38 5.7.2 Minor Trail Crossings – less than 80km/h Speed Limit Roads ......................................................... 39 5.7.3 Minor Trail Crossings – 80 to 100 km/h Speed Limit Roads ............................................................. 39 5.7.4 Trail Crossing on Side Road ............................................................................................................................ 39 5.7.5 On-Road Trail ....................................................................................................................................................... 39 5.7.6 Roadside Trail Signs ........................................................................................................................................... 40 5.8 Trail Signs .................................................................................................................................................................... 40 6 Trail Maps ...................................................................................................................................................................... 41 6.1 Map 1. Existing Maintenance Contract Trails Map = trails highlighted blue ................................. 42 6.2 Map 2. Designated Trail Network ..................................................................................................................... 43 6.3 Map 3. Long Distance Rides – the Peninsula Traverse, Great Sandy Ride, Red Hill Rail Trail and Devilbend equestrian trail ...........................................................................................................................................44 6.4 Map 4. Horse Tour Operator Use of Trails .................................................................................................... 45 7 ACTION PLAN ............................................................................................................................................................... 46 Appendix 1 – Revised Designated Trail Network List Appendix 2 – Indicators of Demand for Equestrian and Roadside Trails Appendix 3 –Red Hill Rail Trail Extension Appendix 4 – Trial Users Survey and Issues Arising from Consultation