Mountain bikers were left feeling deflated after a popular downhill course on Crown land near Mt Riverview was shut down on June 22.
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Members of Blue Mountains Off Road Cyclists (BMORC) and other amateur mountain bikers were shocked to find a bulldozer dismantling part of a downhill trail known as the Chicken Run.
Council was not informed by the Crown Lands Division (CLD) in advance of the works, but a CLD spokesperson told the Gazette council was informed "earlier last week" and signs were installed on site two months ago to inform other interested parties of certain activities being banned, including erecting a structure on, or digging up, public land.
"The work is being undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries in response to complaints from residents about unauthorised construction on Crown land," the CLD spokesperson said on Monday.
"Inspection revealed illegally constructed bike jumps by unknown persons, causing significant environmental damage to bushland and creating potential hazards for the general public.
"The bush regeneration techniques employed will eventually return the land to its natural state, rendering the track closed."
Councillors unanimously voted at last Tuesday's meeting to write to the CLD, "calling for any actions to cease that result in affecting or removing bike trails of any type in Mt Riverview or elsewhere in the Blue Mountains, until such time as the council has been briefed and consulted".
"User groups clearly assert their rights and I think consultation ahead of change is absolutely vital," said Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill.
"The bulldozers are sitting on the trail right now and the work has to stop."
A message on the BMORC website on June 23 acknowledged the sudden closure: "Sadly the result is a terrible outcome which is likely to have ramifications elsewhere."
BMORC member Tim Rowe told the Gazette on Sunday the closure of the downhill track "makes it very difficult for you if you want to do your sport in the Blue Mountains".
He said the Knapsack Park trails were now the only choice for mountain bike riders.
"Nobody was consulted about this work on a trail that's been there for 20 years," Mr Rowe said.