Sure, here is one version of recent history:
This area was the home grounds for the Bayside Hillbillies mountainbike club which no longer exists. Long before sanctioned trailcare activities the club would often cut in and/or maintain tracks on Saturday and ride em on the Sunday, it was a happy place. Noone cared because it really was considered the "boondocks" in those days and mountainbiking wasn't on the radar. Many of the original trails are actually motorbike tracks and motorbikes still ride in some parts despite council fortifications. Several splinter groups were also doing trails in there mainly jumps and downhills around Chicken hill.
Before the more recent flurry of residential development (5 years or so) I'm told a significant area which the trails traversed was owned by Greg Norman who had a proposed golf course which he attempted to get approval for unsuccessfully a couple of times. Not really sure what happened but looks like a re-zoning of sorts occurred and the conservation section became known as Bayview Conservation Area. About 5-6 years ago the Redlands council Trailcare guy joined the hillbillies and attending a number of meetings at the Grand View Hotel to discuss proposed trail development. He had the topo maps and planning stuff and we helped with the on the ground surveys on two wheels.
Redlands successfully organised a number of volunteer trailcare days that were very well supported in particular and mainly by the mountainbikers. Not only were trails built to a good standard, the area coordinator(a keen mountainbiker and forum member himself) looked after the council and environmental approvals. Further trail developments hit a snag when a) environmentally significant flora was discovered in key trail linkage proposal and b) old mate driving the inititative changed jobs. Overall, the work that was done is a good improvement and some of the rougher edges and pinches smoothed out. Not much trailwork has happened that I'm aware of in the previous two-three years. However, thanks to local riders the "unofficial tracks" are still going today.
I've heard the current land managers are seeking input to the area for possible expansion to the existing trail network. This is needed as quite a bit of trail has been wiped out in the surrounds during the residential development including the grading of one of the signature trails. Anyone who rides in the area would probably have a few ideas on how to unlock further potential for mountainbiking. Anyway, that's all I know and it could be bollocks as well.
