Newcastle Orienteering Club

RESULTS - CLICK HERE 

Starts: From 9:00am to 11:30am. (Course closure 1PM) The start will be about 150m south-east of the assembly area. The maps and start units will be at the “start triangle”.

Map: “The Tank Paddock” 1:7500

Planning/Vetting team: David Kitchener & Denis Lyons

Control Descriptions:  Control Descriptions are included on the maps. If you would like an additional Control Description - download them and print them here - WORDS & SYMBOLS.

DIRECTIONS:

•       From Wallsend: Head north-west along Minmi Road to Minmi. At the traffic lights, turn right into Woodford Street and proceed approx. 2 km. further (becomes Lenaghans Drive). The event site will be on the right hand side of the road.
• From Newcastle (via Link Road): Head north-west along the Newcastle Link Road, straight ahead through 2 roundabouts. At the major intersection with Cameron Park Drive / Woodford Street (traffic lights), turn right. Continue 2.0 km on Woodford Street into Minmi. At the next traffic lights, proceed straight ahead for a further 2 km approx. (becomes Leneghans Drive). The event site will be on the right hand side of the road.
• From the M1 (northbound) or M15: Take the Newcastle exit from the M1, or proceed straight ahead for Newcastle from the M15. In all cases, you need to be in the LEFT-most lane, so that you can turn left at the major intersection with Cameron Park Drive / Woodford Street (traffic lights). Continue 2.0 km on Woodford Street into Minmi. At the next traffic lights, proceed straight ahead for a further 2 km approx. (becomes Lenaghans Drive). The event site will be on the right hand side of the road.
• From the M1 (southbound): Take the very first exit from the M1, just 650 metres after the traffic lights at John Renshaw Drive. Proceed approx. 5.1 km on Lenaghans Drive. The event site will be on the left hand side of the road.
  

SAFETY:

• Safety bearing is W to Lenaghans Drive.

• Lenaghans Drive has an 80 km/h speed limit adjacent to the parking and assembly areas.
  Please take care crossing the road. Children should only cross under supervision.

• Trail bikes and 4WD vehicles are uncommon in the area, but could potentially be present. Listen for their approach and give way by moving off tracks. It is safest to assume that they have not seen you.

•      Horse riders also use the area – approach slowly from in front, or let them know you’re coming up behind them – never sneak up on a horse!

• Areas of dense and scratchy vegetation are present. Protective clothing is recommended for those undertaking the more advanced courses.

•       Leg protection is particularly recommended for the Moderate & Hard courses, as the warmer weather may be bringing snakes out of hibernation.
  
  
• NO WATER is provided on courses – please carry your own.

COURSES: All courses will be of NOY standard. (Visit controls in numerical order.)

Course lengths are currently approximate – final lengths will be available Mon 7/9

NOTES:

• The area contains several sections mapped as uncrossable swamp. Unless you are rehearsing for ‘Survivor’, it IS. However, in spite of recent rains, it is not larger than mapped, so you may have confidence in your route planning, in that regard.

• The same cannot be said for the lantana (mapped as dark green – ‘Fight’) which has expanded somewhat, especially in gullies and other low-lying areas. The organisers have tried to ensure the green is accurately mapped where it is a significant factor in your route choice.

• Blackberry thickets are also marked as fight. Give them a wide berth, as they tend to throw out new, not-so-visible tendrils in amongst the long grass.

• Firewood collectors and other timber harvesters have been busy. Some new vehicle tracks, often not terribly distinct, may have appeared since mapping.

•      A few tracks tend to be distinct one minute, grassy corridor the next, then distinct again. Because of the difficulty of clearly showing this on a map at this scale, these tracks are mapped so as to represent their “overall” status.
  
  
•     Some dry ditches and gullies may now appear to have unmapped watercourses, as a result of leaf litter being washed away in recent heavy rain. These are not mapped as they are likely to be temporary.
  
  
•     The northern boundary of the map is formed by the (former) railway to Richmond Vale. While the rails are still present in the corridor, it is not mapped as a ‘Railway’, as the rails are not visible for much of its length.

• Only termite mounds are shown on the map. No tree-root mounds or meat-ant nests.

• Distinctive trees (but not native cherry trees) are shown with a green X.

• At least five helpers are needed to collect controls at each event. Please let the organisers know. Thank you for your help.