Escapegoat set to launch new bike hub at former Belair Golf Course
A masterplan to revamp the Belair golf course – which has been vacant since 2018 – is growing closer and now an SA cycling company has approval to set up shop in part of the defunct club.
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Belair National Park is one step closer to becoming the state’s newest mountain bike hub.
SA cycling company Escapegoat has been granted a temporary licence to operate bike hire, skills courses and tours from Belair’s defunct golf course.
It comes as the department of environment is set to launch consultations for a master plan to decide on the future of the golf club site, which has been vacant since 2018.
Proposals include the set up of a permanent mountain biking hub and soccer club base.
Escapegoat owner Ian Fehler, said the business would operate in the old pro shop, located next to the golf course’s function centre and opposite Belair’s tourism park.
He said he and wife Deborah had been looking for a suitable site for about four years, eventually deciding on Belair due to its accessibility to established trail networks around the Blackwood area.
“We felt that Belair, for a lot of different reasons such as tourism, access, and family suitability, was the best location what we’re trying to achieve,” Mr Fehler said.
“We’re hoping to be up and running by October 1, just in time for the school holidays.
“We’ll be doing things like bike hire, running our beginners skills courses from there, as well as e-bike tours.
“We also want to make it as family friendly as possible, so will have some bike trailers that go on the back of the e-bikes so parents can take the kids for a ride all around Belair.”
Mr Fehler said he was hopeful that this week’s pro-shop approval was the beginning of bigger and better things for the mountain bike community in the area.
“At the moment, while they are doing the master plan, we only have a temporary, six-month agreement to get in there.
“That means that we cant do a big reno on the building, so the set-up will be pretty basic and rustic but, of course, we hope this will become an ongoing thing.
“But for now, we’re excited to get started.”
The State Government first announced plans to transform the former Belair Golf Course in May last year after receiving 13 expressions of interest for new ventures at the 50ha site.
The golf course officially closed in 2018 and is currently overrun with weeds alongside its deteriorating country club.