Location: The Woolshed, Stratton St, Normandale, Lower Hutt, 7: 30 pm
Present
Tyrone McGrath, Marco Renall, Matt Clarke, Craig McGinnity, Paul Scoble, Angus Cotton, Jeremy Paterson (GWRC), Wayne Bonnes (GWRC), Karl Laurance, Ron Harfield, Bruce McHardy, Ryan Callaghan.
(A quorum was present)
Apologies
Ryan Williamson, Nicole Swain.
Minutes of last meeting
Copies were circulated. Minutes read. Moved Tyrone McGrath, seconded Matt Clarke that they be accepted as true and correct. Motion passed.
Financial report
| Last meeting balance |
$1,184.51 |
| Plus income |
 |
| Interest earned |
$1.10 |
| Less Presented Cheques | |
| This meeting closing Balance |
$1,185.61 |
| Cheques not yet presented | |
| Refreshments for meeting refreshments on the 29th Nov 2012 (Tyrone) |
($17.98) |
| Refreshments for meeting refreshments on the 30th May 2013 (Paul) |
($26.78) |
| Bike NZ Affiliation 2013Â (Paul) |
($200.00) |
| Website domain registration (Angus) |
($22.94) |
Reports
A verbal report was given by Tyrone McGrath (President).
Tyrone made mention that the past year had been a tough year for BAMBA and for riders in the park due to the loss of the trail network in the Danzig forest area and also the issues that arose with the new Bull Run track.
Due to work on the Bull Run coming to a halt for some time it was hard to gather momentum again, however the recent progress shows that we are again getting back on track with trails in the park and the relationship with GWRC. Â
Election of Officers
Tyrone McGrath moved and Paul Scoble seconded that the current below positions remain the same as there were no new nominations for these positions:
- President: Tyrone McGrath
- Vice President: Craig McGinnity
- Secretary: Paul Scoble
- Treasurer: Angus Cotton
The motion was carried.
Matt Clarke and Marco Renall also offered to remain on the general committee. Tyrone moved, seconded Craig, Motion carried.
Matt nominated Karl Laurence and Ron Harfield to also join the general committee.     Tyrone moved , seconded Paul, motion carried.
(Craig noted to all present that Nicole was standing down from the committee)Â
General Business
Tracks / trails update
The Bull Run: Tyrone advised that we are progressing really well with the Bull Run and that he felt by the next 2-4 months the track should be down to the picnic area at Hill Road. We will then naturally do some tweaking of required sections of this track, then once this is done BAMBA will be required to contact Wayne Bonnes (GWRC) so a final inspection can be carried out.
Paul and Matt made mention of the amount of gorse present in some areas of the Bull Run and Jeremy (GWRC Ranger) confirmed that if BAMBA puts in a request via writing around November then spraying these areas can be done when the timing is correct to spray.
Logging: Wayne (GWRC) stated that the contractors are almost up to clearing an area for the No.3 Skid site. Cutting and clearing trees for the main access road should be completed in around another 5–6 weeks. Full clear fell logging of the entire Danzig block will then commence and it’s hoped that the whole operation will be completed by October 2013.
The GWRC will be fully responsible for the new Danzig uphill replacement track and will also upkeep its required maintenance.
Baked Beans Bend: Matt asked GWRC when the expected works were to be completed by the group who are doing this build / upgrade. Jeremy thought it was all to be competed by next summer!
The tracks lower exit onto the Mill stream will come out on the north side of the small bridge (on Mill stream) near the current connection to baked beans bend! Some made mention that the switch backs are not up to the required standard for biking up either!
Bull Run Picnic area planting day: Paul gave details on what had been done on the day and that 4 groups (approx. 30 people in all) turned out to lend a hand! Around 550 plants were planted and Friends of Belmont are now to place a picnic table in the allocated spot in the near future.
BAMBA contact details: This was to remain status quo with the secretary’s details (email address / mail address etc. ) being the first point of contact for outside parties. i.e.; Charities Commission, Web site enquiries, Bike NZ etc.
Tool Purchase update: Matt mentioned that Paul Hastings had made a donation of much needed quality tools and in return BAMBA would place his company name / logo on our web site as parties who greatly assist BAMBA. Paul to update tools register as some tools were absent when a count was done recently.
Funding: Matt made mention that we should approach the Lower Hutt City Council in the future to assist with the new trail network in the park. However Jeremy made mention that we of course would need to complete a full GWRC scope and assessment first then come up with the project / proposal to the LHCC. (Paul has been looking into Trail Fund NZ also and next applications due in by July 2013)
Membership: Matt and others were concerned that it was presently the usual 5-6 that were only turning up to dig days etc. and that this needs to be remedied! All present agreed that since losing 5 tracks in the park many bikers are not visiting the park like prior, and with the temporary halting of developing the Bull Run it had meant progress was slower than expected. Tyrone suggested that once the Bull Run is completed we sort out future projects and go from there. It was also suggested to hold perhaps a Super D race or track open day to get bikers back into the park!
It was noted that PNP will not be using the park this year for its race series so BAMBA and the park have lost out in this regard also.
Meeting regularity: All present agreed that a meeting will be held in a month’s time to discuss future track ideas within the park and then every two months thereafter. This is hoped to increase communications and address issues sooner rather than later.
Future track / trails: It was agreed that we talk over the possibilities at next months meeting!
Suggested by Jeremy that we all look at GWRC “Parks network plan†for Belmont (Greater Wellington Parks Network Plan and the specific section relating to Belmont) and use that as a tool to assist in preparing project scope proposals. Committee to think about possibilities over the month and discuss at next meeting!
Mentioned options were: Sweet Acres: Improve so it can be used as a multi 2 way track linking with Bull-a-Varde and Old Coach Road etc.(During lambing once exited the Bull Run there is no way back into the park. Also new Proposed Pylon track. Trig Track improvements. Sidle track from OCR to Middle Ridge.
Next meeting date
proposed as 4th July
Meeting Closed 9.30pm.
Paul Scoble,
Secretary, BAMBA.Â
