Keep Ardmore Trail Bike Park Open

Your Worship

In the interests of sporting recreation we request that you urgently reinstate the operation of the Ardmore Trail Bike Park. This facility has operated successfully, without complaint or nuisance or contribution from Council, for 25 years. As you are aware thousands of riders, including many many children, have enjoyed the facility over this time. The existence of Ardmore Trail Bike Park has created the opportunity for New Zealand motocross riders to lead the world stage and punch above our weight as a country, with multiple world class athletes honing their skills here.

Your's is a Council that takes pride in developing healthy outdoor and sports orientated lifestyles, in an age and community environment where this is under threat, with electronics entertainment and drug abuse prevalent. Consider this your chance to give life to your principles and philosophy, one of few choices your administration will actually have to make a positive influence on behalf of its citizens.

We believe Council should be proud of its history of support of the operation of Ardmore Trail Bike Park within its city boundaries, a progressive action initiated by Manukau City and until very recently whole-heartedly endorsed by Papakura City. Recent actions by Council (Resource Consent insistence and Abatement Notices) have now left a large part of the riding community of greater Auckland abandoned and without a suitable venue. The result you will have already seen, has been increased illegal riding activity in many areas, as reported by local press.

We are all sure that costly Resource Consent legal challenges can be avoided if Council wishes to negotiate in good faith for reasonable continued operational restrictions. This money would be far better spent at the facility mitigating the issues which are identified and of concern to the local community.

Take the positive view - what can you do now to ensure the ongoing survival of this great facility. Make youself and your team of Councillors proud of what you can do now to support our sport and recreation. We want you to take credit for this, not be ashamed and cause enmity.

The administration group of Ardmore Trail Bike Park is more than happy to meet reasonable conditions of operations to placate the small goup of potentially affected neighbouring residents.

Please endorse the Ardmore Trail Bike Park and keep it open.

Thank you.