Your thoughts on
off-roading invited
28 November 2008
‘Tell us what you think of what we have done so far’ is the request from the Auckland Regional Physical Activity and Sport Strategy (ARPASS).
ARPASS is keen to hear from 4WDers, motocross riders and quad bikers across the region – whether they do it competitively or just for fun.
In conjunction with the Auckland Regional Council (ARC), ARPASS has developed a discussion paper on motorised off-road recreation in the region. The paper brings together research sources including private off-road facility operators, DoC, the councils and off roading clubs. Research also involved an online survey of 810 users.
Does the discussion paper accurately identify the issues and possible responses facing off-road users?
Interested off-roaders can access the paper from either http://www.arc.govt.nz or http://www.arpass.org.nz and complete the hard copy feedback form, or visit http://vsl.ORMRsubmission.sgizmo.com to access the online questionnaire.
Submissions close at 5.00pm on Friday 23 January 2009.
The study is designed to provide a ‘snap shot’ of the profile of and demand for off-road motorised recreation in the Auckland region, the key issues and the options to meet future demand. It will help future decision making by the ARC and other ARPASS partners, facility providers (such as clubs), private facility owners and forest managers.
In parallel to this study, in early 2009, the ARC will work with iwi, community and environmental groups to determine the impacts of off-road motorised recreation and conduct a telephone survey on its perception among the wider public.
The three reports will be completed and made publicly available next year. ENDS
For further information please contact:
Danny O’Donnell, ARPASS Strategy Director, 09 6237850
Anna McElrea, Recreational Planner, (09) 366 2000 extension 8011 or 0272160184,
Suzanne Stickney, ARC Communications, 09 366 2000 x8273 or 021 331 634
auckland regional council
auckland regional council
Last edited by Big-AL on Sat Nov 29, 2008 11:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: auckland regional council
http://www.arpass.org.nz/doc/Off_road_m ... _paper.pdf
Off Road Motorised Recreation Key Summary Points
Off Road Motorised Recreation Overview
• A significant number of off road motorised recreation users exist within the
Auckland region with an estimated 8,500 off road vehicles making 250,000 off road
trips per year.
• There has been an increase in the number of off road motorised recreation users
and their profile is changing. Off road vehicle sales have increased over recent
years with most trips undertaken by off road motorised recreation users being
casual (i.e. with friends, family, or on their own).
• Most local sites and facilities for off road motorised recreation are based in rural
parts of Rodney District, Waitakere City, Manukau City, Papakura District, Franklin
and northern parts of the Waikato. Users often leave the Auckland region to travel
to other parts of the country (and even overseas) to participate in events and to
access other sites. The majority of these alternative sites are to the south of the
Auckland region.
• All users are prepared to travel to access sites, with the average distances users are
willing to travel to participate in off road activities being 196 km; however this
differs between motorbikes, 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes.
• There are different track requirements for different events and activities, e.g.
Enduro races require greater track distances as opposed to winch challenges that
require difficult terrain. This makes it challenging to provide for all forms of off
road motorised recreation at one commercial park. Users indicate they are willing
to pay between $20 and $50 to use an off road motorised site.
Regulation
• Off road motorised recreation is regulated differently throughout the region. The
more rural TLA’s identified that the number of complaints have increased in recent
years and the majority relate to noise and dust from off road motorbike usage.
• Increasing regulation, often as a result of an increasing number of complaints as
areas around sites become more urbanised, is resulting in reduced access to sites
and significantly increased costs.
Impacts
• Off road recreation can have a significant impact especially on environmental or
culturally sensitive sites.
• The impacts of off road recreation on other recreational users or neighbouring
properties are an important issue for the general community.
• A small number of irresponsible off road users are seen by many off road users as
responsible for creating a negative perception of all users.
• Limited access to suitable sites can result in overcrowding at existing sites,
increased travel to access sites out of the region and the greater casual and / or
‘illegal’ use of sites.
Implications for future
• Off road motorised recreation is forecast to grow. The diversity in user profile,
growing popularity of the sport, and the increased affordability and availability of
off road vehicles are seen to be key drivers in growth.
• The increasing cost associated with the sport, e.g. fuel, is expected to impact on
the sport. The likely impact is that users are less likely to travel distances to
participate in the sport and hence there will be increased pressure on sites in the
region.
• Population growth in the region, in particular the fringes of the city, is likely to see
further urbanisation or ‘suburbanisation’ of rural sites. Increased urbanisation puts
pressure on existing sites and can reduce opportunities for off road recreation.
• Existing sites are not fully meeting current demand. If the proposed options to meet
this demand are not considered, future growth is likely to result in a combination of
increasing membership of off road motorised recreation clubs so as to gain access to
sites that only allow organised groups, together with an increased casual / ‘illegal’
use of sites.
Off Road Motorised Recreation Key Summary Points
Off Road Motorised Recreation Overview
• A significant number of off road motorised recreation users exist within the
Auckland region with an estimated 8,500 off road vehicles making 250,000 off road
trips per year.
• There has been an increase in the number of off road motorised recreation users
and their profile is changing. Off road vehicle sales have increased over recent
years with most trips undertaken by off road motorised recreation users being
casual (i.e. with friends, family, or on their own).
• Most local sites and facilities for off road motorised recreation are based in rural
parts of Rodney District, Waitakere City, Manukau City, Papakura District, Franklin
and northern parts of the Waikato. Users often leave the Auckland region to travel
to other parts of the country (and even overseas) to participate in events and to
access other sites. The majority of these alternative sites are to the south of the
Auckland region.
• All users are prepared to travel to access sites, with the average distances users are
willing to travel to participate in off road activities being 196 km; however this
differs between motorbikes, 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes.
• There are different track requirements for different events and activities, e.g.
Enduro races require greater track distances as opposed to winch challenges that
require difficult terrain. This makes it challenging to provide for all forms of off
road motorised recreation at one commercial park. Users indicate they are willing
to pay between $20 and $50 to use an off road motorised site.
Regulation
• Off road motorised recreation is regulated differently throughout the region. The
more rural TLA’s identified that the number of complaints have increased in recent
years and the majority relate to noise and dust from off road motorbike usage.
• Increasing regulation, often as a result of an increasing number of complaints as
areas around sites become more urbanised, is resulting in reduced access to sites
and significantly increased costs.
Impacts
• Off road recreation can have a significant impact especially on environmental or
culturally sensitive sites.
• The impacts of off road recreation on other recreational users or neighbouring
properties are an important issue for the general community.
• A small number of irresponsible off road users are seen by many off road users as
responsible for creating a negative perception of all users.
• Limited access to suitable sites can result in overcrowding at existing sites,
increased travel to access sites out of the region and the greater casual and / or
‘illegal’ use of sites.
Implications for future
• Off road motorised recreation is forecast to grow. The diversity in user profile,
growing popularity of the sport, and the increased affordability and availability of
off road vehicles are seen to be key drivers in growth.
• The increasing cost associated with the sport, e.g. fuel, is expected to impact on
the sport. The likely impact is that users are less likely to travel distances to
participate in the sport and hence there will be increased pressure on sites in the
region.
• Population growth in the region, in particular the fringes of the city, is likely to see
further urbanisation or ‘suburbanisation’ of rural sites. Increased urbanisation puts
pressure on existing sites and can reduce opportunities for off road recreation.
• Existing sites are not fully meeting current demand. If the proposed options to meet
this demand are not considered, future growth is likely to result in a combination of
increasing membership of off road motorised recreation clubs so as to gain access to
sites that only allow organised groups, together with an increased casual / ‘illegal’
use of sites.
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PeterVahry
- Hard Yaka
- Posts: 688
- Joined: Wed Mar 01, 2006 12:00 pm
- Location: Auckland
Re: auckland regional council
The deadline for the off road recreation ARPASS discussion paper feedback survey has been extended to the 30th
January 2009.
If you have provided feedback, thank you for your contribution.
If not, the document can be found online at either www.arc.govt.nz or www.arpass.org.nz .
Complete the hard copy feedback form, or visit http://vsl.ORMRsubmission.sgizmo.com to access the online questionnaire.
This discussion paper is important to our recreation around Auckland and a good response would confirm 4x4 interest in having some public facilities for four wheeling.
January 2009.
If you have provided feedback, thank you for your contribution.
If not, the document can be found online at either www.arc.govt.nz or www.arpass.org.nz .
Complete the hard copy feedback form, or visit http://vsl.ORMRsubmission.sgizmo.com to access the online questionnaire.
This discussion paper is important to our recreation around Auckland and a good response would confirm 4x4 interest in having some public facilities for four wheeling.