A biking accident on a Queenstown track at the weekend highlighted the need for a management plan, already nearing implementation Queenstown Lakes District Council parks director Paul Wilson said.

Mr Wilson today investigated the accident, which saw a 14-year-old Oamaru boy injured when he fell from his bike. The accident had occurred on a freestyle mountain bike area (known as a terrain park) and established privately by experienced local mountain bikers earlier this year.

"They (park developers) had done the right thing and ensured that we had been made aware of the park and also established signage to warn of the risk," Mr Wilson said.

He understood the injured young man had visited and ridden on the terrain park previously.

"It's most unfortunate that on this occasion this young man's enjoyment of the area has ended in injury," Mr Wilson said.

The incident reinforced the need for the Council's draft management plan for Ben Lomond and Queenstown Hill, which was due to close for comment this week.

"It's a big area covering 461 ha and has a lot of potential for the development of mountain bike tracks for differing levels of expertise. We have been grateful for the enthusiasm and assistance we have received from local mountain bikers," Mr Wilson said. In recognition of that, the plan included the ability for clubs to lease areas that they would need to manage and control to the satisfaction of the Council.

"Under the new plan the Council would assess the safety of such a terrain park and ensure that there was no potential for any other pedestrian or cycle traffic," Mr Wilson said.

The plan would also see all Council tracks graded and signposted according to levels of difficulty.

At the end of the day however, Mr Wilson said, there would always be an element of personal risk involved when riding a bike on a downhill track.

"Obviously the message is that people need to stay within their limits," he said.

ENDS

For further information please contact Paul Wilson 03 441 0499  or 0274 488 062

By: Tamah