- Media Release
After well over a year of detailed planning, investigation, intensive engagement with a range of stakeholders, and following on from the Federal Government’s commitment to provide $2.5M (on top of the State’s $500,000 commitment) towards the development of a range of MTB Trails on the West Coast, the West Coast Council appointed renowned MTB Trail Designers Dirt Art Pty Ltd last year to design around 35km of Trails for one of the most iconic locations in Tasmania, if not Australia – Mt Owen in Queenstown.
The initial design work is now completed, and the West Coast Council is set to launch the detailed Draft Designs for the proposed Trail Network, at 8am on 27 February 2020 at the Headley Faull Park in Queenstown. The launch will involve a free BBQ, the opportunity to view the draft Trail Designs, a range of speakers and the showing of a brand-new set of recently completed MTB videos for the region.
The draft Trail Designs are being made available as part of a 6 week community and stakeholder consultation period, to gather important feedback and to ensure that the proposed Trails are in line with the detailed West Coast MTB Trail Strategy and are therefore the best they can be for the region.
Mayor Vickers said: “It’s critical that we provide an opportunity for the public and others to provide further feedback before we move into the next phase of development. The Mt Owen trail network will set the tone for further planned development of MTB infrastructure around the West Coast. Anecdotally, everyone we speak to has confirmed the location is spectacular and will no doubt present unique riding not seen elsewhere in Australia at present. The 6-week feedback period will be critical in officially gathering that feedback so that we have as much input as possible to ensure the final product is everything the Council, community, visitors and the MTB industry itself is anticipating.”
General Manager David Midson said: “it’s great that we’ve reached the milestone of putting out the designs to the public. The amount of interest being generated by the new purpose-built trail in Zeehan (developed by Parks and Wildlife) is amazing and is testament to the strength of the MTB opportunity for the West Coast. With Mt Owen anticipated to be operational in the next 10 months or so, it’s only going to increase visitation numbers to the region and provide important recreational and economic opportunities for locals. There’s more planning to do of course, particularly with our new MTB Reference Group, but the Council is getting on with implementing the detailed West Coast MTB Trail Strategy and we’re all excited about the opportunities the new MTB Trails in the region will bring to strengthen our communities further.”