MCU12/0012 Notice of submission Lynda Page-Bickley - Not Properly Made

Subject: MCU12/0012 Notice of submission Lynda Page-Bickley
From: Lynda & Dallas
Date: 2012-05-01T05:41:39+00:00
To: Internet Mailbox Sunshine Coast Regional Council

Dear Sir,
I am writing in regards to a council application MCU12/0012 Regarding the Noosa Trail 3 to be used by quad bikes for a local business.
 
My concern with this application is that I have a horse that was damaged by a motor bike before I owned her and now, even when she hears a motor bike she becomes very agitated and dangerous.  I have tried everything to desensitise her to this but to no avail.  It is for this reason that I only ride the marked Noosa Trails knowing that it will be unlikely to come across any motorised vehicle on these trails, thus keeping the likelyhood of an accident to a minimum.
 
I travel with my horse in a flaot to get to these trails and I ride them with my 10 year old daughter and her 9 year old friend.  Both of these girls are very capable riders and I am a qualified National RIding Coach, not a beginner.  I would hate to think what would happen if the three of us came across these Quad Bikes in the bush.  My horse has beem known to panic so badly that she has fallen on top of me and I am the adult in charge during these rides, therfore I have a Duty Of Care to these minors.
 
I feel it would be beneficial for these quads to go out to the Gheerulla National Park which has been specifically set up for bikes, or the Imbil National Park which has been made virtually un-navigatiable due to the grids that were put in to keep horse riders out about 5 years ago when the Government tried to ban us using the National Parks.  I would never even enter the idea of taking horses there, just as I would hate to have to stop riding the Noosa Trails for fear of my own or the children in my care being put in a dangerous situation.
 
I hope that we can keep our trails safe for all the riders in the area and for those who come into our Shire so that they can utilise these trails, thus bringing tourism and money into our area of the Sunshine Coast.  I know of many active riding groups that come and camp at our Pony Club Grounds in Pomona especially to use our fabulous, safe, environmentally friendly trails.
 
This also brings me to the matter of preseving our trails.  I live close to the Eumundi State Forest but I can not ride there, not only because of the motorbikes, but also because of the extensive erosion caused by motor bikes riding through wet tracks and making these almost impossible to walk on, let alone navigate a horse through.  I would be more that happy to take a council advisor to these areas and show them this damage first hand so they would have some indiation of what our Noosa Trails would be in for if they are opened up to quad bikes.
 
I am not a motor bike hater. My husband rides a Suzuki Vstrom and I happily ride pillion with him, so I want you to know that I understand bikes are fun and in their own place I fully encouage their use.  I understand peoples passions and if we all keep to our own allocated areas we can all have fun, but horses and motorbikes/quads just dont mix and this can put all riders in danger, not just the horse riders, but a horse could easily panic and hit a motorbike/quad bike in doing so.
 
Thank you for your consideration and Duty Of Care regarding the use of our tranquil Noosa Trails which have been created for all horse  riders, bike riders and bush walkers to be in a safe enviorment, both now and hopefully for many years to come.  
 
Yours Sincerely
Lynda Page-Bickley
0400114437