I hear that McVicars have finally agreed to sell their land (the big area of forest between Dyers and Worsleys) to the council who are going to make it a recreational park. There is talk of a luge track down it possibly which could be fun. Hope they dont forget us MTBers - it is an area of huge potential!

This seems to pop up all the time, is it actually confirmed now or still rumour stage?

Wobbler wrote:This seems to pop up all the time, is it actually confirmed now or still rumour stage?

Confirmed I believe but I dont think it will happen in a hurry. The deal includes allowing some 10 acre blocks for the McVicar family to build on I was told.

As I understand it the CCC voted this week to give $3mill to the Port Hills Park Trust Board (PHPTB - who are current title holders for Mt Vernon Park) towards the purchase of Cashmere (McVicars) Forest. PHPTB have to come up with the rest of the money (don't know how much is required) to complete the purchase and bring this area into public park / reserve status.

So - a step in the right direction towards securing this land / forest for recreation but not signed and sealed yet.

pedalingkiwi wrote:As I understand it the CCC voted this week to give $3mill to the Port Hills Park Trust Board (PHPTB - who are current title holders for Mt Vernon Park) towards the purchase of Cashmere (McVicars) Forest. PHPTB have to come up with the rest of the money (don't know how much is required) to complete the purchase and bring this area into public park / reserve status.

So - a step in the right direction towards securing this land / forest for recreation but not signed and sealed yet.

I was told it was still around $2mill that they need to raise but the person I spoke to seemed confident it could be achieved through sponsorship. Not sure if I would be confident with todays economy.

Check this link after the 1st of August, it will tell you everything the CCC is spending money on, if McVicars aint on there then McVicars aint on there.

Just a heads up that an article about this is to be printed in the Press tomorrow or Thursday.

Tri wrote:I hear that McVicars have finally agreed to sell their land (the big area of forest between Dyers and Worsleys) to the council who are going to make it a recreational park. There is talk of a luge track down it possibly which could be fun. Hope they dont forget us MTBers - it is an area of huge potential!

Dont worry, the mountain bikers have spoken about their interest in getting in there long ago. I know that a while ago Nick (CCC Ranger in charge of the mountain bike tracks) and others had a walk in there to scope it all out and were very keen on being let loose in there! When you consider how much area there is there compared to the current trails in Vic Park, there is potential for some fantastic trails!!

It wont be just the Mtbikers who want access and to be allowed to build trails. There will be a bunch of other people who will see it as a great opportunity as well.

Trail wrote:Dont worry, the mountain bikers have spoken about their interest in getting in there long ago. I know that a while ago Nick (CCC Ranger in charge of the mountain bike tracks) and others had a walk in there to scope it all out and were very keen on being let loose in there! When you consider how much area there is there compared to the current trails in Vic Park, there is potential for some fantastic trails!!

I'm sure I remember Nick saying he thinks a 6 minute downhill could be achieved.

It sounds like this is really happening. Wicked. What sort of realistic timeframes are we talking before there's (legal) trails in there?

BOUT BLOODY TIME is all i can say.

Bloody McVicars, they were too tight assed for too long.



one thing tho. Fire risk in there in droughty summers is gonna be hella extreme, way worse than Vic Park, and way more logistically nightmarish for firefighters. i can foresee the place being closed down at times... pray for a bit of rain in the summers and NONE over winter!

DD-Rick wrote:

Trail wrote:Dont worry, the mountain bikers have spoken about their interest in getting in there long ago. I know that a while ago Nick (CCC Ranger in charge of the mountain bike tracks) and others had a walk in there to scope it all out and were very keen on being let loose in there! When you consider how much area there is there compared to the current trails in Vic Park, there is potential for some fantastic trails!!

I'm sure I remember Nick saying he thinks a 6 minute downhill could be achieved.

More like 8-9 if built properly.

Not that I know anyone who's been scoping it out or anything, no......... no......... nothing like that.

8-9 minute run, that would be sweeeeeeeet

It would indeed be schweet........ duuuude!

Attached is the artical form the press.

I saw a video the other day of Matti Leikenen riding up a platter lift, got to be cheaper than a chair, and less maintenence / operator cost..