$60m Adelaide Wine Capital Cycle Trail Project push to bring international tourists
Cyclists could ride all the way from Clare to McLaren Vale under a multimillion-dollar plan to link two of the state’s biggest tourist drawcards.
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A new trail linking Clare with McLaren Vale would capitalise on the booming bike economy and help bring more international tourists to SA, proponent councils say.
The six regions covering the area between the towns are developing a business case for the project, which Barossa Valley Mayor Bim Lange estimates would cost between $50 million and $60 million to build.
The Adelaide Wine Capital Cycle Trail would link existing sealed or gravel paths, such as the Reisling Trail in Clare Valley and Barossa Trail, via currently undeveloped sections and forest tracks.
The councils have invested $135,000 in planning work for the trail, to initially run from the Clare Valley to Mount Barker, and eventually be extended to McLaren Vale.
Clare & Gilbert Valleys Mayor Wayne Thomas said the combination of exercise opportunities and wine tourism would help market the region to the world.
“If we can extend that and give it an international profile, we think it will attract international visitors,” Mr Thomas said.
“The feature of this idea is you then start introducing more overnighting. It would bring economic benefits, particularly for our smaller towns that bike riders might like to stop at.”
A report to Mount Barker Council said more than 3 million visitors were cycling in Australia each year, generating $254 million in economic benefit.
“The health benefits for Australia are estimated at over $15 million with the bike economy growing at a rate of 5.3 per cent per annum,” the report said.
Anne Moroney, chief executive of Regional Development Australia’s Barossa, Gawler, Light and Adelaide Plains branch, said the trail could have even more effect if it was extended to the Southern Flinders and Cape Jervis, as the jumping off point for Kangaroo Island.
“If it’s done as we hope it is … it could join the great caminos and trails in the world,” Ms Moroney said.
“There will be lots of ways to enjoy the trail – it can be either done as one big pilgrimage or to come back to and do piece by piece.”
It was vital regions seized the opportunity to market food, craft and heritage offerings to cyclists and walkers, she said.
Mr Lange, one of the project’s key drivers, said councils would lobby the Federal Government in the hope of securing funds to carry out the capital works, with councils covering ongoing maintenance.
“We’re hoping to get it in the top 100 infrastructure projects for Australia,” Mr Lange said.
He said the trail would be unique in Australia and show off rural areas that “no-one ever gets to see”.
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“Adelaide is already renowned for wine and building the cycling experience with the Tour Down Under and those sorts of events,” Mr Lange said.
“This is just about value adding to what we’ve already got and taking it to the next level.”
Mr Lange said if the councils secured federal funding, work could begin within 6-12 months.
“If the money’s available we could have most of it done in three years,” he said.
Barossa Council tourism services officer Rebecca Uphill said a trail connecting the state’s iconic wine regions would be “a game changer” for international tourism.
“The trail will also be great for local South Australians, encouraging them to get out and about in our beautiful wine regions by bike promoting a healthier lifestyle,” she said.