{"id":55,"date":"2009-03-20T12:00:31","date_gmt":"2009-03-20T00:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bamba.org.nz\/bambawordpress\/?p=55"},"modified":"2011-09-23T10:09:56","modified_gmt":"2011-09-22T22:09:56","slug":"foundation-document","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bamba.org.nz\/?p=55","title":{"rendered":"Foundation Document"},"content":{"rendered":"

Belmont Area Mountain Bike Association (BAMBA)<\/h1>\n

1.0 Background<\/h2>\n

Mountain biking in New Zealand arose during the mid 1980\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s as Cross\u00c2\u00a0Country riding on existing off-road trails and tracks.\u00c2\u00a0 It has subsequently evolved into a mainstream\u00c2\u00a0sport, which now includes additional sub-disciplines such as Down Hill, Hill\u00c2\u00a0Climbing, Free Riding and Jumping.\u00c2\u00a0 The rapidly growing mountain bike (MTB) community is continually seeking new opportunities to enjoy these various expressions.<\/p>\n

Mountain Bikers also want to ensure existing access to tracks is maintained, minimise impacts on the environment, and ensure existing assets and public resources are managed in a sustainable manner.\u00c2\u00a0 To be successful, this activity must be integrated with other legitimate user groups such as walkers, trampers, runners, guided tours, dog walkers, horse riders and outdoor nature lovers.<\/p>\n

Belmont Regional Park (BRP) is situated to the north of Wellington City, and includes the skyline between Lower Hutt and Porirua\u00c2\u00a0Cities. It contains 3,700 hectares of land and stretches from the Hayward\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s highway at its northern end to Petone\u00c2\u00a0in the south.\u00c2\u00a0 BRP\u00c2\u00a0is managed by Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) to safeguard its natural resources and historic features, and to provide for the enjoyment of visitors.\u00c2\u00a0 This park has close proximity to the large population base present in the greater Wellington area and is a very significant asset to the MTB community.<\/p>\n

Historically the MTB community has been involved in BRP in a number of ways.<\/p>\n

Local clubs have engaged with Parks\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 staff and have run competitive Cross Country racing and Orienteering events at various locations throughout the park.<\/p>\n

Clubs and individuals have also gained permission to develop MTB specific trails within the Stratton Street Belmont pine forest.\u00c2\u00a0 This has resulted in a network of widely promoted and frequently used MTB trails, including the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Danzig\u00e2\u20ac\u009d track which was built by the Hutt Valley MTB Club over a decade ago.<\/p>\n

The MTB community maintains these assets, and volunteer days are periodically held to re-bench and resurface the trails and keep foliage trimmed back.<\/p>\n

These efforts have been assisted by the provision of external funding for trail building tools and materials. This generous support has been obtained from cycling and community group advocates such as Ground Effect Clothing and the Port Nicholson Poneke Cycling Club of Wellington.<\/p>\n

The Belmont Area Mountain Bike Association (BAMBA) has recently been set up to represent MTB interests to GWRC\u00c2\u00a0and local authorities in relation to BRP and adjacent city reserves.<\/p>\n

Messrs Matt Clarke and Marco Renall are the foundation members.<\/p>\n

BAMBA\u00c2\u00a0will consolidate the efforts and ideas of the different clubs and individuals, and be the point of contact between GWRC and the MTB community.<\/p>\n

2.0 Vision Statement<\/h2>\n

The following vision statement has been developed by BAMBA to express the future requirements and desires of the MTB community.<\/p>\n

To maintain, enhance and develop BRP\u00c2\u00a0assets and resources within BRP and the surrounding Western hills, by providing a premier destination for Mountain Biking as a recreational and competitive
\nactivity, and to successfully integrate this activity with those of other user groups while minimising impacts on the environment.<\/p>\n

3.0 Key objectives<\/h2>\n

The foundation members of BAMBA have identified the following objectives to help achieve this vision.<\/p>\n