More than 300km of mountain bike track to be built at Eden, Narooma, Taree, Mogo

More than 300km of mountain bike trails are being laid across the south coast as part of a major project to revitalise tourism and attract visitors long after summer holidaymakers decamp the beaches.

Mountain bike clubs say hundreds of kilometres of mountain bike track being laid in fire-damaged state forests will draw new tourists to the south coast as regional councils seek to capitalise on nature adventure tourism.

More than $13 million provided by the Federal Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery fund has been spent expanding and revitalising tracks throughout the south and far south coast, with intricate trails being built at Eden, Narooma, Taree and Mogo.

The amount of track in Narooma alone is set to triple this year after $3.9m from the recovery fund was spent expanding the 30km track first laid by Mountain Bike Narooma president Georgie Staley and her husband five years ago.

The avid mountain bike riders built the tracks through Bodalla State Forest over four years with their own supplies, before the paths were later legalised by the NSW Forestry Corporation.

“We couldn’t get help from anywhere,” Ms Staley said.

“So, we just started doing it ourselves.”

The Narooma resident was inspired by small towns in New Zealand and Tasmania that had been revitalised by an influx of mountain bike tourists, and hoped to see a similar change in her town.

“We know from when we travelled, we’d ride in the morning and then in the afternoon do touristy stuff – spend money,” she said.

Narooma Mountain Bike Club member Fletcher Breust riding in Bodalla State Forest. Picture: Narooma Mountain Bike Club

“All these things make a difference in a small town.

“It keeps somebody in a job.”

Unlike seasonal experiences tied to the beach and warmer weather, Ms Staley said the consistent climate of the south coast meant riders could visit all year round, patronising local businesses in their off season.

“I had a business in Eden for a long time and you survived on your summer tourism, because after April things just fell away,” she said.

“But, with cycling, you can potentially have visitors all year around.

“This area just offers the most amazing weather climates for cycling – it never gets too hot and it never gets too cold.”

Construction on the second and third stages of the Narooma mountain bike project will start in March, building on top of Ms Staley and her husband’s groundwork, with an additional 70km of track to be laid by trail development company Dirt Art.

Narooma District Chamber of Commerce and Tourism president Dr Jenny Munroe echoed hopes for an economic boon from the development.

“Mountain biking is one of the fastest growing recreational activities globally and Narooma has the environment and facilities to host the bikers who will visit for the experience,” she said.

“This will provide opportunities for local hospitality businesses to have year round custom rather than rely on seasonal trade.

“The far south coast will be the perfect mountain biking destination for enthusiasts and will provide facilities for families to foray into our beautiful bush with all the benefits of exercise, adventure, and the environment.”

In nearby Eden, construction will also begin in March on another 60km stretch of track to be laid in Nullica State Forest.

The project is expected to wrap up in June, and will feature amenities such as trailheads and signposts.

Work on the new Eden mountain bike trail network will begin in March after receiving funding from the bushfire relief fund.

Eden Mountain Bike Club said a yet-to-be announced second stage was forthcoming and would include an additional 60km of track.

Further up the coast, similar projects are already being planned for Mogo and Tathra.

Having suffered from fires and floods, Mogo could soon be revitalised by more than 150km of mountain bike track, once details are finalised, according to Eurobodalla Shire Council’s divisional manager of strategic growth Liz Rankin.

The project is in-line with previous efforts in the area, with Mogo and Taree having hosted mountain bike tournaments.

The tracks will be built in the Mogo State Forest, which has played host to important cycling events, including a tournament known as the Angry Doctor last held more than a decade ago.

Ms Rankin said the area had been singled out by the council as the ideal location for bike tourism.

“Mogo has great opportunity and potential as a mountain biking destination,” she said.

“The master plan has identified that the Mogo trials have the potential to be nationally significant.

Bushfire-ravaged land behind Mogo on the south coast. Picture: Toby Zerna

“So, one of the best in the country in terms of its downhill and the breadth of trail that we could offer because of the topography, the terrain, aspect to water, and proximity to Mogo itself as a town.”

Ms Rankin said the trails would build on what Mogo already offered as a tourism destination, including the Mogo Wildlife Park, and would highlight the local environment and be accessible to families with children.

“We are a family destination,” Ms Rankin said.

“There‘s a perception that mountain biking is just adrenaline, rushing downhill, full face mask adventure.

“But, mountain biking is actually more than that.

“One of the key focuses of our trail development in Mogo is that family market, and having a trail offering that would meet the needs of a broad level of rider.

“Some mountain biking destinations are very much focused on that adventure, and while we will have that, we‘re also looking at a lot of green trails, to service that family market.”

Ms Rankin said the council was invested in what it called “flattening the curve”, which entailed moving away from summer-focused tourism to projects with a greater stability all year round.

“A big part of the trails is to actually bring people here at other times of the year to really support the businesses,” she said.

“It‘s about filling beds, and restaurants and cafes, throughout the year, as opposed to just that peak season.”

Ms Rankin said the trails would also provide new job opportunities, including mountain bike guides, retailers and repair shops, as well as operators at the facilities themselves.

Narooma Mountain Bike Club members Elyce, Kaz, Sarah, and Sammie in Bodalla State Forest. Picture: Narooma Mountain Bike Club

But, Ms Rankin said it was the breweries that she expected to see some of the greatest benefit.

“Mountain bikers like their boutique beer,” she laughed.

“And there are craft breweries springing up all over the shire.”

Ms Rankin believed there was a common thread among the developments throughout the region.

“Both the Narooma mountain bike network and the Eden network are in state forest, the same as Mogo,” she said.

“In a region such as ours, the network‘s complement each other.

“It’s not about competing, it’s about having a regional mountain biking offering.”

Ms Staley said the region’s mountain bike clubs were in constant communication, and were interested in creating a network of tracks that would include inland mountain bike destinations, such as Canberra and Thredbo.

“We’re not in competition,” she said.

“It’s about helping to build the local economy. And by local I mean the far south coast, not just Narooma.

“We‘ve just got a really great sort of area that’s just going to be so dense with mountain biking.

“If you’re a mountain biker, I think it‘ll be pretty awesome.”