Unpowered sites are available for camping at around $5 per person per day.

The cost of riding at the facility is currently..
Adult MA licence holder – $35 ($39 for non SEQ Council of Mayors region)
Adult non-MA licence holder – $42.50 ($47 for non SEQ Council of Mayors region)
Child (U16 years) MA licence holder – $20 ($22 for non SEQ Council of Mayors region)
Child (U16 years) non-MA member, $25 ($28 for non SEQ Council of Mayors region)

Click herer to see a map of the location

Jump to 5:48 to see footage of the natural terrain motocross track

Click here to see the development plan

There is an official (invitation only) launch and opening planned to take place on on site Sunday 18 December 2011. After this date the park will be opening to the general public.

They are also offering a direct deposit payment plan for the $800 registration fee but the $360 yearly fee must be paid up front.

Check back later for more info as it becomes available or go to Black Duck Valley

Black Deck Valley Camp S

Motocross tracks in South East Queensland are dropping like flies and others are not being given permission or support by local councils. An organisation needs to pick up the ball and influence the right people to put the sport back on the radar and support its followers. I myself have two young daughters who ride for fun and do not have the skills, ability or desire to ride at one of two clubs with 75km of brisbane whose primary focus is competition racing.

2008 has seen a large jump in dirt bike sales but a fall in places to ride. Surely the closure of places to ride should be a concern to Pro motorcycles and team moto, not to mention the scores of chinese importers. Where will these bike be used, on the streets, on off road trails, public parks? These places will cause many more injuries and complaints than a park with supervision, track maintenance and coaching miles from anywhere. Then what, ban dirt bikes all together?

Why can’t the govenment or motorcycling australia or maybe even a corporate sponsor like Red Bull, Global Action Sports or a manufacturer like Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha and KTM support black duck valley. Some of these companies will suffer along with the rest of us if we don’t have anywhere to ride.

Park owner Kate Diete said that they are looking at selling the land in 250-acre blocks for between $200,000 and $400,000. “Yes, pretty angry, was a place to ride, was my job, was my whole lifestyle,” he said. Maybe the owners are just sick of fighting a never ending battle.

In my local area they have just spend a million dollars on a new skate park. I’m sure there are quite a few injuries as a result. Why not provide a controlled area for dirt bike riding, enforce licensing and bike scrutineering, supervision and training. Hey, why not support a park that’s already here and make it better? Not that they could do much to improve the tracks at black duck valley, the tracks are well maintained and safe.

A club in SEQ mentioned recently on their web site that if they didn’t get enough volunteers to help with club duties than the track would not receive the maintenance it should and potholes would appear once again. A club fully backed and insured by Motorcycling Queensland. So why can’t MQ back Black Duck Valley, their tracks are prepped nearly every day and the don’t expect the riders to help.

Maybe Black Duck Valley could lease the land where the motocross tracks and/or fmx ramps reside to riders attending the park. The owners of the park retain ownership and the conditions of the lease state that the owners can terminate the lease without notice (it would expire the same day anyway), the owners must maintain the tracks and supervise much like a body corporate agreement? That way the riders at the park would be the owners and therefore would have to carry their own personal insurance and any liability suits would be against themselves. The riders and the park owners would be responsible for the condition and safety at the park?

Deputy Mayor Toni Bowler led a push to reverse the decision, arguing that the state government was doing its own study across South East Queensland and the council should not waste its money. This was opposed by Mayor Melva Hobson, Peter Dowling and Helen Murray. The decision came after the manager of Redland Bay’s Kindilian centre Rebecca Fox complained that if a motocross track was built nearby it may force the closure of the outdoor camping facility.

Motorcycling Australia general manager Lindsay Granger condemned the council for backing down on its own study, saying that there are 1700 licensed riders in the Redlands and surrounding suburbs. This doesn’t include a large number of riders who are not licensed.

Voting with Toni Bowler included, Wendy Boglary, Craig Ogilvie, Debra Henry, Barbara Townsend, Murray Elliot and Kathy Reimers.

So what happens now?
Where do all the dirt bike riders go to ride?

There are a growing number of dirt bike enthusiasts thanks to the influx of cheap Chinese imported bikes. This means there are also going to be more inexperienced riders without adequate supervision. This will lead to more and more people riding illegally and risking the lives of themselves and those they come into contact with.

The Redlands has spent a million dollars on a skate park. But can’t take the needs of all its residents seriously and simply complete a study to find suitable land for a motocross track.

The park has implemented additional safety measures to meet the concerns of safety raised by various members of the community. Black Duck Valley Motorcycle Park now and in the future will provide monitoring of park users and will advise them of the risks that they face.

A First aid station has been created in the Motocross area, as well as a better camping layout which will reduce cross traffic. If you ride on the trails then you will be required to sign in and out for trail riding.

Recreational motocross riding can be dangerous, but with care and knowledge, you can enjoy motocross riding. Information will be provided to all users of the park on the risks involved in recreational motorcycle riding.

With more and more families getting in involved with motocross riding, Black duck valley is dedicated to the development of a family oriented recreational riding facility that you and your family can enjoy again and again.

 
The first bike past is me on my CRF450R jumping one of the small table top jumps on track 4 at black duck valley.

Black Duck Valley ramps are closed by order of the coroners inquest, Track three has been closed as well as the 100ft table top.

The coroner felt so strongly about the dangers of riding at the park that he felt it should be compared with other banned or heavily regulated high-risk sports, such as cage-fighting, duelling, base-jumping and boxing.

It is alleged that black duck valley does not engage in any form of risk management apart from requiring visitors to accept full responsibility and liability and waive any responsibility from the park owners, use the park at their own risk.

However if you attend the park you will be given a map which indicates the skill level required for each track.

Toowoomba hospital started collecting statistics on the number of trauma cases from the park and found that between June 2005 and April this year 285 patients had required treatment and some injuries were life-threatening. The Gatton ambulance station rosters on extra weekend staff to “meet the demand” from the park

The state coroner, Mr Barnes found flaws in the management of the park in that they did not check the riders competency and skill before allowing entry, incorrect signage was displayed on dangerous tracks, park maintenance was irregular and that sufficient instructions were not provided for riders to determine the risk factors involved.

I was at black duck valley on the Anzac day long weekend and was surprised at the number of choppers and ambulances frequenting the park to remove injured riders out of the park. One thing that you need to remember though is that everyone who participates in extreme sports knows what they are doing is dangerous! Nobody likes to hear about deaths and injuries but everyone knows only too well that there are inherent risks involved with any form of motor sport.

I returned to motocross riding just over 12 months ago after racing junior motocross over 20 years ago on a KX60 and RM80. The bike I ended up with after all this time had passed was a KX250 2 stroke.

Were did I go for my first ride?
Black duck valley!
Did I attempt the jumps on track 3?
No way!
Why?
Because they are way beyond my ability.

It would probably be a good idea to monitor activities at the park more frequently as there are people who attend the park with little regard for the safety of others. I would imagine if the tracks at the park were aligned with Motorcycling Australia (MA) track regulations and mandatory training and licensing was brought in it may help a little.

Dirt bike riding is becoming more of a family activity and parks like Black duck Valley are a step in the right direction.

No one can make decisions for you, you are responsible for your actions.

My 8 year old daughter, who was already geared up soon after arriving, headed off to the easiest of the junior tracks, which is a circle track that has no jumps, to get used to her 70cc mini bike. She’d only ridden in the backyard before now. It didn’t take long for her to build up confidence to ride on the other junior tracks with the exception of the advanced junior track because Dad wouldn’t let her. The second junior tack has some 180 degree turns, the third ads in some jumps and berms. There is another tack called the pee wee track which is similar two the second junior track with some small jumps.

My brother and I tend to ride on the motocross tracks 2 and 4 mostly. Track 4 has a lot of table top jumps with wide corners and large berms. This is a great track to ride on and will suit motocross bikes sized from mini to adult. There is a long table top straight after the far bottom corner (from the entrance) which I hit in third gear in the meat of the power on my CRF450R in order to clear it. There is another jump on the top straight near the entrance which I’m in 4th gear.

Track 4 is a faster track than track 2 and includes an 80 foot table top which I take on in 5th gear at fairly low revs on my CRF450R, on my KX250 99 model it’s about the same. You should be sure of your abilities before attempting a jump of this size. What makes this jump a little easier is the fact that it is at the end of a long straight so you have ample opportunity to set yourself in the correct position before the ramp.

There are two other motocross tracks, track 1 and track 3. I am told that track 1, which I haven’t been on yet, includes a 100 foot table top for the adventurous. I have been on track 3 once, just for a look, and it includes some pretty steep ramped big air table tops.

The advanced junior track is best suited for 65cc motocross bikes as it has tight turns and a number of small table top jumps.

You pay up front for your camping and riding fees at the entrance to the park. You can also get spare parts and tyres fitted at the check in point here. There are cold showers and toilets available at the second camping ground and hot showers and toilets available at the first. Firewood is also available but if possible, bring your own, you will certainly need it during the colder months of year.