Access to parts of Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park and areas of Burrawan and Queens Lake State Forests will change from early October, as operations begin to harvest and replant timber plantations.

Forestry Corporation of NSW’s Partnerships Leader Sandra Madeley said parts of the Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park would be temporarily closed and a safer access route has been established leading directly to the trail head carpark.

“Burrawan and Queens Lake State forests, just south of Port Macquarie, are popular with mountain bikers, and a range of other forest users. We’re asking all these visitors to plan ahead by checking the maps on our website and pay attention to any signage in the forest,” Ms Madeley said.

“Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park operates in these forests under a forest permit and we have been working closely with the Hastings Valley Mountain Bike Riders to arrange alternative access routes and minimise the impact on trails during upcoming operations.

“We are asking visitors to avoid Spring Creek Road and instead use 14/1 Trl to access the main trail head carpark for the Jolly Nose Mountain Bike Park.

“Mountain bike riding is one of the many nature-based activities in State forests that have seen a huge increase in popularity during Covid and we are working closely with Hastings Valley Mountain Bike Riders to ensure mountain bikers and other forest users can continue to safely enjoy the areas not impacted by these operations.”

Hastings Valley Mountain Bike Riders President Mick Fullbrook said a risk assessment will be undertaken prior to the trails re-opening.

‘’While it is disappointing to have the trails closed, the club was aware of harvesting occurring at some point in time as we are in a state forest.  We are more than happy with the improvements to the roads which have occurred, allowing improved access and we are looking forward to getting back to the trails to make some improvements following the harvesting’’ Mr Fullbrook said.

‘’Not all of the trails are in the harvest area, so we can still enjoy riding out there, however, if riders ignore the signs and ride the closed trails, this might change. We want everyone to do the right thing.

Forestry Corporation of NSW’s manager responsible for plantation establishment Craig Busby said that the timber plantations in Burrawan State Forest had been planted for timber production and would be harvested and replanted with seedlings over the coming months.

“Timber is an essential renewable resource and these timber plantations outside Port Macquarie were planted to supply a wide range of renewable timber products, including power poles, structural timbers for bridges and girders, and flooring and decking for houses,” Mr Busby said.

“Plantations are established for timber production, so plantation harvesting is quite visible as all plantation trees are harvested before the entire area is replanted for the future.

“More than 1,000 seedlings will be replanted in every hectare harvested, to regrow this timber plantation and these seedlings will be grown for up to 40 years before they are next harvested for future generations.

“Plantations are managed alongside native forests, which are selectively harvested and regrown in line with strict regulations and some adjoining areas will also be harvested and regrown in future.

“Timber is the most renewable building product available and sustainably-managed plantations and forests are a key part of the climate solution. Taking into account the energy required to transform raw materials into building products and the fact that timber stores carbon for the whole of the product’s life, timber has a much smaller carbon footprint than other popular building materials like steel or concrete.

“And unlike many other building products, every time a tree is harvested, a tree regenerates in its place, making timber a sustainable, renewable resource for future generations – the ultimate renewable.”

For more information about Forestry Corporation of NSW, or to view the plantation harvest plan, visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au

Media contact: Rod Campbell