Freeriding
My personal opinion is that if you keep pulling it down and dont give them an area, they will just go somewhere else (possibly more sensitive) and hide it better.
DEC have a MOUNTAIN BIKE MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES(draft document), which describes freeriding as such.
++++++++++++++++++++
FREERIDING
Freeriding is a style that focuses on technical challenge and can be accomodated in specific use areas termed challenge parks or skills areas as well as specifically designated trails. Many mountain bike parks include freeride trails, skills and specific trial areas. The trails are characterised by their built technical features including elevated bridges,dirt jumps, see saws and trail aligned rock drop offs, ledges and logs.
This style of riding is in high demand world wide as it can combine all mountain bike styles with technical features appealing to the more "extreme" trail user. A problem with freeriding world wide has been off-trail riding, which tends to have very high environmental impacts except on extremely tough surfaces like bare rock or unvegetated stony ground.
+++++++++++++++++++++
According to this document free riding IS allowed in regional parks, state forrest, national parks with approval and permission. It is NOT allowed in nature reserves and conservation parks.
DEC also have a "trail difficultty rating system" used on signage.
White circle (easiest) to Double black diamond (hardest). I think this is the same as or similar to what IMBA use.
Providing the trail has the correct signage then freeriding features are fine.
If a trail is not signposted it is most likely illegal or DEC are tolerating it for now.
Our "Pile Rd" trails system is like your "Goat Farm". We have been riding the area for 20+ years. We have encounted a lot of issues that have popped up on this website lately. Our latest issue has been the rerouting of a trail to avoid an aboriginal site. I think our next issue will be a "hot burn"off next spring, which could turn our freeriding logs to dust. Our trails difficulty range from "Blue Square(difficult)which is realy quite easy " to double black diamond(very difficlut)". We also have a jump park which will be moved and made bigger. Personally I would like to see a 4x track be developed as well(I am not sure what the policy is there).
I notice most clubs have a cross country and downhill committee person but not a freeride committee person, change this and it would be a good start. perhaps then you could convince DEC to fast track some freeriding facilities(don't despair yet dave).
The only stumbling point that I can think of is that DEC do not have the manpower.
You DO have to work with DEC.
Originaly I did not have any freeriding skills, It looked dangerous, but I "had a go".
Now I think like "Can we make it higher?, can we make it skinnier? bring it on".
Freeride, bring it on.
__________________________