Yates says the city has a shortage of off-road cycling facilities, with only 12 trails for 1.4 million residents - despite mountain biking being one of the country's fastest-growing sports.
"The closest major off-road riding is on two commercial forests - Riverhead and Woodhill - where the public has no direct control of the asset."
He says the Penrose site is close to many suburbs and links to public transport and the Manukau cycleway. Trails would work for other park users and not affect heritage sites.
The town planner says his club is prepared to organise working bees to build tracks, which shows it is "putting our money where our mouth is".
Historic Places Trust archaeologist Bev Parslow says the hill has been continuously occupied by Maori and European settlers over the past 600 years. It contains the remains of a prehistoric village, possible Maori gardens and a historic European farmscape.
A 2001 investigation found the sites were rare, with "high archaeological integrity".
The trust has asked for more specific plans for the cycle trail and detailed assessment of the area, including input from iwi. "Once we receive this we will be in a better position to evaluate the possible impacts on both the archeological features, as well as the broader heritage landscape."
Ngati Whatua spokesman Ngarimu Blair says his tribe supports an "appropriately designed" mountain bike trail if care is taken.
"We are particularly supportive of a mountain bike trail at Mutukaroa if one can be accommodated well away from any Maori archaeological sites to reduce the offending currently occurring on other volcanic cones by mountain bikers that damage and destroy Maori archaeology," Blair says.
Department of Conservation biodiversity ranger Steve Benham says Mutukaroa is also important because a regionally uncommon larva plant, Coprosma crassifolia, grows there.
Auckland Council's manager of regional and specialist parks, Mace Ward, said a 2005 concept plan included a beginners' off-road mountain-bike trail around the edge of the park.
The process had been complex because half of the hill was owned by the Crown, and the other half by the former Auckland City Council. It is now managed as part of Auckland's regional park network.
"At this stage, planning is taking place to see whether the cycle trail is feasible, with further detailed consultation still required with stakeholders and groups."
Stoneham says the trail would scratch only the surface of Hamlins Hill. "Cows probably do more damage than we'd ever do."
He speaks proudly of how his group has taken matters into their own hands in the past, building an unauthorised cycle trail in Western Springs which the council ended up removing. Stoneham says it is unacceptable to have a blanket no-go zone over the whole of Hamlins Hill without a date for when it would be lifted.
"Progress is moving at a glacial speed... stakeholders are slowing us down. Their attitude should be 'how can we make this happen?', not 'what obstacles can we put in the way'."
The Historic Places Trust warns damaging or modifying an archaeological site can result in fines of up to $100,000.
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