Eurobodalla: Mountain biking facility planned for rapidly growing biking haven

A region on the NSW south coast, which was devastated during the Black Summer fires, has transformed into the “mountain biking capital” of the state. Here’s the latest plans.

More than 300km worth of mountain bike tracks are being built in the Eurobodalla.

The Eurobodalla region on the NSW south coast is continuing to transform into the “mountain biking capital” of the state, with a new biking facility planned.

The town of Mogo was devastated by the 2019/20 Black Summer fires, with dozens of homes and businesses destroyed.

However, a biking phoenix has risen from the ashes, with more than 150km of mountain biking tracks recently opened.

The ‘Mogo Trails’, which run from the Mogo State Forest down to Narooma, were opened in a bid to turn the small village into a mountain biking tourism hot spot.

Bicycle NSW chief executive officer, Peter McLean, previously praised the plans.

Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean said the Eurobodalla was becoming the state's mountain biking capital. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s just only going to keep getting better,” he said.

Developers Jobe Rech have proposed a new multimillion-dollar, state-of-the-art mountain biking facility for the town.

The Mogo Trails. Picture: Eurobodalla Shire Council.

The plans – currently before the Eurobodalla Council – would see a $2.1m mixed-used bicycle repair shop, bike rentals, washing station, cafe and a six-bedroom bed and breakfast constructed at 8-10 Annett St, Mogo.

Planning documents state the proposal would benefit the existing trails.

The documents reveal the bed and breakfast would cater to bikers travelling along the Eurobodalla tracks, with the repair and wash down station allowing them to care for their bikes.

Mr McLean said it was inevitable that Mogo and the Eurobodalla was “becoming the mountain biking capital”.

Mogo on the morning of December 31, 2019. Picture: Tom McGann.

“You’ve got mountains, you’ve got dense areas with trees which are almost rainforest, then you have incredible beaches,” he said. “There’s really nowhere else like it.”

The idea for the tracks arose after council released its Destination Action Plan to find ways to boost tourism economy.

The 50km for Tathra, 100km for Narooma and 155km for the Mogo State Forest are predicted to attract more than 45,000 tourists to the region in Summer.

“These tracks are going to bring so many people to the area,” Mr McLean said.

The biking CEO said a trail from Canberra to Batemans Bay would be enjoyed by tourists, and noted he would support construction of the ‘Capital to Coast’ track referenced in the Destination Action Plan.

“Bikeman” Joel Baty opened ‘Ride the Bay’ in August this year. Picture: Tom McGann.

“I can see it happening because the city and the coast are already connected so it just makes sense to have mountain bike tracks connecting the two,” he said.

Ride the Bay owner, avid bike rider and Batemans Bay resident Joel Baty said the 155km worth of tracks were great for the area.

“We already see so many tourists come into our store renting bikes to ride around the bay and surrounds, beach tracks, bush tracks, things like that; so it really just makes sense to have something like this track coming,” he said.

Mr Baty – also known as Bikeman – opened his bike rental and sale store ‘Ride the Bay’ in Batehaven in August.

“It really was the perfect time to open a bike store with all these tracks being built,” he said.

“It’s all about destination and the Eurobodalla Shire really is just perfect for these mountain bike tracks.”

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Originally published as Eurobodalla: Mountain biking facility planned for rapidly growing biking haven