ACT Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman plans to install an “iconic trail network”. Photos: Supplied.
The ACT Government has revealed plans to make Canberra the mountain biking capital with an ‘iconic’ trail network that will traverse across the city.
ACT Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman announced that planning and design work has begun on a new “iconic mountain bike trail network”, as he opened a new pump track out in Majura Pines on Wednesday morning (27 March).
The Government has called on Canberrans to help develop its plans for a territory-wide mountain bike trail, inviting people to send in their ideas for the trail or to attend workshops that will be held in the coming months.
Mr Gentleman said Canberra is home to a strong and growing mountain biking culture and plans to provide a unique diversity of trails that cater for everyone from professional mountain bike riders to first-time riders.
“The trail network will showcase our unique landscapes and improve connectivity between our mountain biking hubs,” Mr Gentleman said.
“This project is a key component of the ACT Government’s Cycle Tourism Strategy that has the ambition to establish Canberra as a cycling destination of choice.
“We’re inviting trail users to have their say in a series of community workshops that will help shape the concept plan and identify priority trails.”
The trail will be suitable for all mountain-bike riders, from beginners to professionals.
The ACT Government said they are currently undertaking stakeholder consultation to gather ideas and develop a draft ACT Mountain Bike Concept Plan, and expects a full public consultation period to be undertaken from August to December this year.
The plan is expected to be finalised early next year before the detailed trail design will start by June 2020 at the latest.
Mr Gentleman said he is interested in hearing from a range of individuals including trail users of all ages and recreation types, competitive cyclists, tourism and cycle businesses, Instagrammers, photographers, artists, cycle tourists and nature lovers.
“We have a strong and growing mountain biking culture in Canberra and are encouraging people to contribute to the further development of our trails network,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Sustainable trail design is a key objective of the project and we will consider the fragility of local ecosystems and the value of parks and reserves to all users.
To have your say and learn more about the ‘best of Canberra mountain bike experience’ project, click here.
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Renee Ker Richie Bates both Brisbane and now Canberra are doing a mtb strategy. IIllawarra Escarpment has 35k of trails fast tracked, and Creswick Victoria have 100k planned. All of these places are following the example that has been set by Derby, with a small investment, bringing tourists in from all over the country. We have a much longer mtb pedigree and better climate than all of these places.
Wow. After decimating some of the best part of Majura with the Parkway ...
Great news!
Matt Koerber thought you would be an ideal consultant
While walking on the path from Hall to One Tree Hill yesterday my group was almost knocked down by a speeding mountain biker. No bell, no warning, just a sense of arrogance and intention that we, all in our 60’s should get out of her way! Not uncommon, either on this path or on any path in Canberra. This path that goes all the way to Bonner SHOULD NOT allow bikes. In many places it is narrow and these Lycra-clad speedsters appear from nowhere and refuse to slow down, expecting pedestrians to get out of their way.
My brother, also in his late sixties, was hit by a speedster on the path around Lake Tuggeranong. He suffered four broken ribs, one of which ended up perilously close to his spinal cord, a punctured lung, bruised lobe and a pneumothorax! I am fed up with hearing about laws to protect cyclists - we also need, urgently, laws to protect pedestrians. Starting with a requirement for cyclists to give proper warning when approaching a pedestrian and a MANDATORY REQUIREMENT for them to slow down to 5kmh when passing pedestrians or recreational bike riders eg a family on a bike ride. If they want a bike trail from Hall to Bonner build them a separate one!
Is that what you do in your car every time you pass a cyclist? Blast your horn and slow down to 5km/h?
Tim Coleman no I give them heaps of room as I pass! Because I am responsible- are you?
Lorraine Welling that really sucks and I have totally been there. However I think you need to be careful about brushing all cyclists with the same brush. Because you have had a traumatic incident I understand that naturally you will naturally move into a fear state as a form of protection, but this just limits your perception. Cycling culture is important for the region and it is important to work towards being more inclusive rather than exclusive
Duane Toohey you're a professor of bikiology right?
Kingsley Newman not wizard level.. what's on your mind?
Murray Farrell get among it!!!
hell yeah
Thredbo is better
Ryan Walsch .. this would be your dream come true !!!
Thomas and Jodie - you have to visit now!!
Jane Lloyd would love to see your smiling face anytime 😘🤗☺️xxxx
Great idea. Excited to hear the feedback
Kris Johnston haha as if they will listen... we all know what public consultation is like in this town.. "here is our idea, what do you think?oh you don't like it? Too bad that's what we are doing anyways"
I wonder if geocon will get the job to build it 😂
More ACT money thrown at bike enthusiasts
Sarah Powles it'll bring a good return.
Sarah Powles have a look at how it has turned life around for aces like Derby in Tasmania. It brings tourism. 🤘
Dee Sis too true however if this plan does not factor in some manner of strong focus toward gravity or gravity XC riding similar to derby/ blue tier then people won’t come. We already have some excellent mtb venues and the already amazing centenary trail ringing Canberra. Putting another XC traverse across Canberra seems like duplication and will benefit those of us who live here rather than those who might travel here to ride. That said it is great to see investment and thought being done!
Lap Nguyen this would be awesome! 😎
Stand up for your rights good for one good for all
Nick Hepple when can you ride?
Leon Kotzur when can you get a hold of a bike?
I can ride now, have been out a couple of time to test it out, felt good
Nick Hepple brillant. No idea. I’ll try find a good one as aren’t any good ones out home!
Charles Anthony Christo others.....
"expects a full public consultation period to be undertaken from August to December this year.
The plan is expected to be finalised early next year before the detailed trail design will start by June 2020 at the latest.
Mr Gentleman said he is interested in hearing from a range of individuals including trail users of all ages and recreation types, competitive cyclists, tourism and cycle businesses, Instagrammers, photographers, artists, cycle tourists and nature lovers."
You can participate in one or more of the following ways:
Send your ideas for an iconic Canberra mountain bike trail network to us.
Request an invite to attend one of several stakeholder workshops happening in 2019 to develop the draft concepts.
To contact our team, email CanberraMTBExperience@act.gov.au
Thanks Jasmine!!
Erik your chance to make Canberra’s bike tracks awesome as well
Ah... in all that spare time... lol
With the amount of money that has been spent at Stromlo and Majura, Canberra SHOULD already have this. Both of those places are pretty average at best by comparison to riding destinations that mountain bikers love. Canberra had it's chance 10 years ago and squandered it...
The problem is the way Stromlo is managed. There is no board and direct involvement from the MTB community. So have flimflam.
Andrew Remely yeah fair call. I travel to canberra for work once a month for about a week and always bring my bike. I'm now of the opinion that stromlo sucks. No maintenance of trails, poor directional flow at most trail junctions. Complete lack of trail maps once you leave the car park. Most people ride the same loop, if you try and deviate from that you end up riding fire road to link back to anything. Don't even get me started on the state of Vapour Trail! My local trails are illegal yet are maintained by many people and are in great shape. Nobody in canberra thinks to donate their own time because what you have has been given to you, not hard earned.
Reuben, I think you'll find the amount invested at Stromlo was not all that large and the spend on Majura was tiny in contrast to what is invested elsewhere. I actually think they got a great result for the amount spent at Majura, though I agree that Stromlo is below par compared to destinations elsewhere in Australia and overseas. Stromlo and Majura represent a small part of what we have and of what we could have across the ACT.
Stromlo isn't going to suit everyone and its function is to fill a place within the ecosystem of trails in the region. Not to be all things to all people all the time. Personally I think it holds up pretty well maintenance wise considering the amount of use it gets. Volunteers could not keep it going anymore.
Head out to Kowen, Sparrow, Tuggeranong Pines, Bruce Ridge and until recently Majura pines which were all built and maintained by locals VOLUNTARILY before you make uninformed claims such as "Nobody in Canberra thinks to donate their own time because what you have has been given to you, not hard earned.". Canberra locals have built and maintained literally hundreds of kilometers of single tack in the region for a very long time.
Erica Francesca your wee student would be so excited?
Sarah Isabella yes he would! I will show him. I think that's awesome.
Great idea and good for Canberra , now how about a dedicated motor bike venue