Track Alignment - modifications

During the design phase, the final alignment and track design were modified from the preliminary alignment and design, based on the professional advice of DirtArt, in order to to increase the functionality and sustainability of the Downhill Track.

The main changes include:

1. Reducing the number of switchbacks and stacked corners to develop a 'rolling contour' trail where the gradient loss occurs in a stepped fashion to improve trail flow, reducing braking and wear and tear on the track surface and to provide more of a downhill experience whilst reducing the area of vegetation clearing required for track construction;
2. Increasing sustainability by locating steeper gradients in areas where bed rock and loose rock is available, to better utilise existing areas of natural armouring  and facilitate improved armouring of track surfaces;
3. Moving the final section of trail out of a moist drainage line area. The final section of the trail has been moved so the alignment no longer crosses the moist drainage line area and instead follows a drier rock-based alignment to avoid crossing this wetter area.  This will also adjust the finish speed of riders to facilitate a safer merge onto the existing sealed path at the end.

The final alignment and the track design concept drawings are available for viewing on right (see Library).

The final alignment will substantially reduce the impact on the Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest based on the approved average track width of 1m. The  final alignment will reduce the total area of Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest impacted by the construction of the new Downhill Track from 730.6m² to 460m². This represents a 37% reduction in the area of Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest EEC impacted by the construction of the new sections of Downhill Track.

A map showing the preliminary alignment and the final alignment within the mapped vegetative communities on site is available for viewing on right (see Library).