Cycling Cecilia cork tree trail

[Bloukrans]

Went up Constantia Nek yesterday about midday - came across a cyclist on the gravel road from the Nek to Cecilia - That area is a no go zone for cyclist!!!

Edited August 24, 2015 by Bloukrans

[(Deon)]

 

Went up Constantia Nek yesterday about midday - came across a cyclist on the gravel road from the Nek to Cecilia - That area is a no go zone for cyclist!!! 

 

I'm getting people posting on TokaiMTB's FB page that they really just don't give a damn, but I'm sure this makes them nothing like the taxis. 

Edited August 24, 2015 by (Deon)

[Toby Adams]

Went up Constantia Nek yesterday about midday - came across a cyclist on the gravel road from the Nek to Cecilia - That area is a no go zone for cyclist!!!

Ooooooooh how dreadfull, motor vehicles are allowed on part of this route but no cyclists!

Does seem a strange anomoly

[Toby Adams]

Found this, possible dates for Silvermine included. Have not varified. Saddly still a long wait.

 

Silvermine to reopen soon

 

PRESS STATEMENT: POST FIRE REHABILITATION UPDATE: RE-OPENING OF BURNT AREAS

20 August 2015: Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) takes pleasure in announcing the re-opening of certain burnt areas which had been closed off to the public. Restoration work started immediately after the fire with attention to both restoring access as well as the natural elements. Now, five months after the fire, fynbos recovery is showing great progress and mountain lovers can once again look forward to their favourite hikes and to see the wonders of fynbos.

The recovery of fynbos had been closely monitored by a number of scientists, studying the return of plants and animals after the fire. SANParks Regional Ecologist, Carly Cowell, has worked with the rehabilitation teams and is satisfied with the diversity of plants returning, as well as the distribution of plants across the burnt area. Camera traps and spoor are providing evidence of animal movements while other signs show the return of insects, birds and reptiles to the area. “However, everything is still in a very delicate stage,” says Cowell.

Park management has therefore been advised to open the burnt area in a phased approach, where veld recovery and footpath rebuilding has shown good progress. Area Manager Gavin Bell says: ”teams have been hard at work implementing rehabilitation plans to allow for the re-opening of certain areas.”

This has certainly been the case in the mountains above Lakeside, Muizenberg, St James and Kalk Bay which TMNP foresees re-opening to the public at the start of SA National Parks Week which runs from 14th - 19th September 2015 and is a week of free entry to all parks in the country.

Permitted recreational activities in the re-opened areas mentioned above will continue as before, including hiking and dog walking with people kindly requested to remain on demarcated footpaths and to be mindful of rules pertaining to keeping dogs under control. Re-opened paths following the fires in the park include:

- Pecks Valley

- Bailey’s Kloof

- Spes Bona

- Echo Valley

- Trappies Kop

- Ou Kraal and

- Steenberg Plateau

In the Cape of Good Hope section of the park, the Gifkommetjie and Circles Vlei areas are now open to the public after the area was extensively burnt in March. Teams have been working around the clock to re-build the various walkways and footpaths destroyed during the blaze.

Burnt infrastructure has also been replaced as well as the demarcation of existing routes and the inclusion of new, more visible signage. The unique Olifanstbos Beach-Cottage at Cape Point was also closed and is now open for bookings (see: www.sanparks.org/tourism/reservations/).

Teams are now moving to the rest of the Silvermine area including the mountains above Hout Bay, Noordhoek and Constantia as part of the rehabilitation programme with the re-opening of this part of Silvermine envisaged by the end of December 2015.

The Upper Tokai section of the park remains closed with rehabilitation work still in progress. However the possibility of an opening by end of next year is in sight. We plead for more patience and ask that people assist us by remaining out of all burnt areas while Mother Nature heals herself

It would be wonderful if TMNP posted a very brief update on the progress on the 'circa-peninsula route' or better still the 'cork tree trail'

Then the biker population would know what progress is being made

[Toby Adams]

Does anyone know when the 'cork tree trail' from Constantia Neck to the Cecelia forest car park will be opened to cyclist?

[DJR]

Does anyone know when the 'cork tree trail' from Constantia Neck to the Cecelia forest car park will be opened to cyclist?

Definitely not anytime soon.

[(Deon)]

Hi Toby, going right back to the procedure for new cycling areas or trails, the revised Environmental Management Plan with Cecelia included in the list should come out for public comment in the next two weeks-ish. Unless it is opposed by more people than those who support it, I cannot see that it won't be approved. 

 

The public step of this process will be advertised.

[Toby Adams]

Hi Toby, going right back to the procedure for new cycling areas or trails, the revised Environmental Management Plan with Cecelia included in the list should come out for public comment in the next two weeks-ish. Unless it is opposed by more people than those who support it, I cannot see that it won't be approved. 

 

The public step of this process will be advertised.

Thanks Deon, so how long does the EMP sit on the table for public comment before cyclists see some action on the existing road/trail?

[(Deon)]

Question 1. Expect a month turnaround for the Environmental Management Plan sign off from date advertised.

 

Question 2. Laying down of tracks is undefined. The plan however with the revision of the emp is to streamline the adoption of trails. Based on the enthusiasm seen from Parks.. not long.

 

The routes linking north to south have been chosen based on the amount of intervention required to convert them to cycling trails. No trail features but rather tending to sustainability requirements.

 

Another plus is that TokaiMTB has worked with TMNP for over 10 months to develop the official signage to be used in the park. It's just a matter of naming the trails, printing and installing. 

[DJR]

Definitely not anytime soon.

Seems the idiot who posted this don't know his head from his arse!  

Edited January 16, 2016 by DJR

[(Deon)]

Seems the idiot who posted this don't know his head from his arse!  

..not necessarily. There are some who would consider two months nowhere near fast enough. I know this as a fact.

[(Deon)]

Good news: The Environmental Management Plan that has been long in development and review is about to be advertised for public comment starting 4th April and closing early May.

 

The document will be distributed through various electronic media including TokaiMTB, Amarider, PPA/TMB and SANParks TMNP. It's also available in libraries and various other spots across the metropolitan area. A full list will be provided.

 

A lot of time, money and effort from the various representative groups has gone into this revision and each one should be commended for seeing the process through. Just the commitment alone for following the legislated procedure as set out in the protected areas act has meant a good relationship between the reps and SANParks has been formed, with the last few reviews being proof that we are all working towards the same goal.

[Mntboy]

Good news: The Environmental Management Plan that has been long in development and review is about to be advertised for public comment starting 4th April and closing early May.

 

The document will be distributed through various electronic media including TokaiMTB, Amarider, PPA/TMB and SANParks TMNP. It's also available in libraries and various other spots across the metropolitan area. A full list will be provided.

 

A lot of time, money and effort from the various representative groups has gone into this revision and each one should be commended for seeing the process through. Just the commitment alone for following the legislated procedure as set out in the protected areas act has meant a good relationship between the reps and SANParks has been formed, with the last few reviews being proof that we are all working towards the same goal.

I've just had a deep sigh of relief! Really glad to hear this Deon. Good news indeed. Does this mean that the adoption of trails should be happening around May as per comment in reply 297?

 

Edit: correction of month and referencing the applicable reply.

Edited March 21, 2016 by Mntboy

[Lone_Ranger]

Good news: The Environmental Management Plan that has been long in development and review is about to be advertised for public comment starting 4th April and closing early May.

 

The document will be distributed through various electronic media including TokaiMTB, Amarider, PPA/TMB and SANParks TMNP. It's also available in libraries and various other spots across the metropolitan area. A full list will be provided.

 

A lot of time, money and effort from the various representative groups has gone into this revision and each one should be commended for seeing the process through. Just the commitment alone for following the legislated procedure as set out in the protected areas act has meant a good relationship between the reps and SANParks has been formed, with the last few reviews being proof that we are all working towards the same goal.

Well done Deon and your team. I know how frustrating it can be working with environmental and other authorities. Keep it up! Wear those mofo's down with your perseverance ????

 

Hopefully we'll be back in Tokai (on some super awesome new trails) in the not too distant future.

[Toby Adams]

Deon, this sounds very exciting! Can't wait to see what is planned

Does this EMP cover an offroad cycling route joining the southern section of the park to the northern slopes of Table Mountain?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Deon, this sounds very exciting! Can't wait to see what is planned

Does this EMP cover an offroad cycling route joining the southern section of the park to the northern slopes of Table Mountain?

I speak under correction, but yes. Mark & Deon have been the primary workers on this, with the rest of us trying to provide moral support. It was included at their (Parks) request, afaik.