Mountain Bike Tours operator says public locked out of Cairns’ downhill World Cup circuit by red tape

THE eyes of the world are on a Queensland city for a sporting event this weekend, but behind the scenes is a turf war over public access to the location.

A TOURISM turf war has erupted in Cairns over public access to the city’s World Cup mountain bike course.

The eyes of the mountain bike world are on the tropical north this weekend as the ­second leg of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, which began in Cairns on Friday, finishes today.

But tourist operators fear the region’s economy will not be able to capitalise on a predicted explosion in the niche market because the State Government has declared the downhill course a restricted access area.

Cairns Mountain Bike Tours operator Graham Fragiacomo said he used the downhill World Cup circuit under a State Government permit for three years before being told he would have to move to an agreement he claims is impossible to meet.

Mr Fragiacomo said red tape had gone so far, some overzealous rangers had ­refused him access to all of Smithfield ­Conservation Park.

“I’ve gone there with paying customers and we get to the gate and we can’t get in the conservation park,’’ he said. “We had access to the downhill track for three years with no problems.

“I would basically be breaking a condition as soon as we got on the track. Say the old permit had 10 conditions, well this one now has 90,” he said.

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Mountain biking has ­become a strong tourist market. Mt Buller, Queenstown in New Zealand and parts of Asia attract thousands of mountain bike riders annually.

The State Government claims the park was classified as a restricted access area for the purpose of ensuring the World Cup track was in peak condition.

A letter from National Parks Minister Steve Dickson’s chief-of-staff Johanna de Winter to Mr Fragiacomo said the relevant authorities would look at renegotiating the agreement.

A spokeswoman for Mr Dickson would not comment on commercial agreements beyond the World Cup.

“The double black diamond downhill mountain biking track within Smithfield Conservation Park was classified restricted for public safety, and to protect the integrity and standard of the track for the World Cup and World Championship events,’’ the spokeswoman said.

‘”The track was upgraded for the downhill race events, but can still be accessed by members of the public through approved commercial tourism providers, and by members of the Cairns Mountain Biking Club.’’