Push for Fox Creek to become Australia’s premier mountain bike track
South Australia’s jewel of mountain biking is set for a major revamp with the burnt out Fox Creek Forest Reserve at Cudlee Creek to be redeveloped into a world class trail network by 2025.
Adelaide Hills
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South Australia’s mountain biking community is rallying together in a bid to transform fire-ravaged Adelaide Hills tracks into a world-class attraction.
Mountain bike tracks in Fox Creek Forest Reserve, at Cudlee Creek, have been off limits since a bushfire raged through the area in December.
Renowned trail designer Nick Bowman, director of Lobethal-based Destination Trails, has produced a $5 million plan to create a single, 120km trail in the forest by 2025.
It would put Fox Creek on par with Blue Derby in Tasmania, Australia’s premier mountain bike destination for international competitions.
“Fox (Creek) is, and always was, the jewel in the crown of SA riding – it’s time to make it world-class,” Mr Bowman said.
He said the tracks already catered for national events and one of the last remaining 24-hour mountain bike challenges in Australia, the Dirty Weekend.
“However, an international-level event is possible and would be a great drawcard for the region.”
Mr Bowman said local and state cycling bodies were working on a funding drive and had approached Premier Steven Marshall and Environment Minister David Speirs for support.
A State Government spokesman said a range of projects to help revitalise the Adelaide Hills were being considered, although a decision on the Fox Creek proposal was yet to be made.
“Tourism and nature-based recreational activities will be an important part of this,” he said.
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The Fox Creek plan has caught the attention of local riders, including 16-year-old Ethan Hutchinson.
He is behind a Facebook group, Fox Creek MTB Trails Rebuild, which has recruited nearly 800 members who are willing to help clear the tracks so they can be reopened. “When I started seeing posts about Fox Creek being on fire, I was devastated,” Ethan said.
“I went out there the day after and saw what had happened. The tracks were still there but there was nothing. No wildlife. No birds chirping. No trees or animals in sight, there was only black. By that point, I knew I needed to start up a group.”
A Forestry SA spokesman said the agency hoped to reopen Fox Creek in the next six to 12 months and was working on a recovery plan, along with other government departments, Bike SA, mountain bike clubs and community groups.
The Advertiser this week launched The Adelaide Hills News, a digital masthead covering the Hills region.
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