ALBURY Council is planning to reduce the number of mountain bike tracks along Nail Can Hill because of environmental concerns.
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Chief executive Frank Zaknich flagged the move in response to deputy mayor Amanda Cohn calling for a "strategic approach" to mountain biking in the city.
"The intent is to rationalise the number of tracks, improving some and closing others," Mr Zaknich stated.
"This is in recognition that Nail Can Hill is such a high value area, from a community asset and environmental perspective."
Cr Cohn plans to move a motion at Monday night's council meeting which will "develop a strategic approach to supporting the growth of mountain biking in Albury".
Areas she wants addressed include trail maintenance, the provision of car parking, shade, toilets and bike repair stations, and prevention of unauthorised trail formation.
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In his response, Mr Zaknich points to a recent council audit as a catalyst for closing tracks.
Albury Wodonga Mountain Bikers vice president Michael Ross expects tracks on official maps will be retained and those shut-off were likely to be "animal tracks that people have started riding".
"Some tracks have been getting a bit wider and there are a few straight lines people are looking to avoid that have become quite rocky and hard," Mr Ross said.
His group voluntarily tends the trails and he welcomed council aid, noting a car park and toilets were needed on Range Road.
"It would be nice to have the council invest some money, given it's not just the club that uses the trails and there are walkers and non-club members using the trails," Mr Ross said.
Cr Cohn did not respond to The Border Mail about her motion on Sunday.
However, councillor David Thurley said there was a feeling in the community that more needed to be done to ensure bike tracks were not developed haphazardly.
"There's a fair bit of commentary from people saying it's got a bit out of control," Cr Thurley said.
"People have been saying that it's all very good and well that young kids are going out and exercising but they need to stop digging the place up and making their own jumps."
Mr Zaknich accepts the need for a mountain bike strategy and expects it can be presented to the council by next March at a cost of $60,000 with bike riders to be consulted.