STEVE WRIGHT
Our latest Pearl iZUMi Local MTB Hero is Steve Wright, who lives on the north side of Sydney, close to the popular H20 trail network. Steve has been promoting the trails through social media, and working with volunteers on trail maintenance, communication, and working to formalise the network with Hornsby Shire Council. His nominations reflect this.
‘He’s done a lot to get these trails on Hornsby Council’s agenda to be formalised. He’s also organised a petition of more than 3000 signatures that stopped Council shutting the trails in the upcoming development. Without people like him we would have no trails like we have here in Westleigh,’ wrote one person.
‘Steve works tirelessly looking after the trails and leading the Facebook group to let everyone know the trail conditions and when it’s ok to ride and when to stay off when it’s wet. He moderates the group and makes sure everyone feels welcome.’
The H2O trail network has about 10km of purpose built trail, on land that used to be owned by Sydney Water.
‘It was a dump for years, and before that it was a place for Sydney Water to lay out human waste to dry before they’d scrape it up for fertiliser,’ explains Steve. ‘But on the edge of the dump area and before the houses, there is a corridor of bushland where the trails exist.’
‘The majority of the trails are rated green according to IMBA. But for advanced or intermediate riders we do have the “outer loop”, rated black but more like blue according to the new ratings. It’s quite challenging with uphill switchbacks and technical features. It’s as hard a ride as you want to make it.’
To help riders find their way around Steve created a trail map and branding for H2O, and he also maintains a Facebook group – all to help increase awareness within the local community. ‘The whole point of these trails is to make them accessible to families, which is why the map and branding were created, to get the engagement and attract new riders. H2O was a local secret of sorts, until council bought the land.’ Steve soon caught the attention of council, who didn’t want the trails promoted. ‘But the thing is, the trails have existed for decades, and have immense popularity. The Facebook group increased by 78% in the last 12 months, with over 5000 members. Since COVID 19 the trail usage has increased dramatically,’ Steve explains. The online petition was set up, as a way to find community support when council were going to shut the trails. ‘What I wanted to do was to bring the awareness to the community that the trails exist, and don’t necessarily need to be closed; they can co-exist with the environment.’
There are many examples of well-managed trails, co-existing with sensitive ecology, which Steve highlighted when he presented to council. He presented thousands of signatures via his online petition. This demonstrates not only strong support for H2O trails but rejects the council’s plans to close the popular trails and replace them with what amounts to a bike path skirting the forest, aligned with the site boundary very close to residential homes.
‘If we don’t get the trails sanctioned, chances are more unsanctioned trails will be built deeper in the bush,’ which Steve says is increasingly happening in surrounding areas. Steve’s goal is to have more sanctioned trails, and have ways to connect them without using roads. ‘There’s a number of places to ride here, but they’re not linked up.’
‘Council did defer their decision,’ Steve says. ‘They agreed to a co-design approach– so that’s a good outcome. We wanted consultation. It is an informal trail and it can be better with professional resources and involvement.’
It sounds like Steve and the volunteers he works with may have a long road ahead, but a visit to the trails is an easy way to find the energy for him to stick with it.
‘The reason I volunteer is because I want these trails to be loved more than they are already. We want people riding in our beautiful bushland, having fun. The key to our success is balancing recreation with bushland conservation.’