Gold Coast’s newest tourist attraction: Hinterland mountain bike riding gaining attention despite obstacles

The Gold Coast could ride out a winner by backing mountain biking as a fresh economic and tourism driver. But there are obstacles, writes Paul Weston.

THE Gold Coast could ride out a winner by backing mountain biking as a fresh economic and tourism driver. But there are obstacles. We have to work to remove them.

After reports in the Bulletin highlighted the campaign by cyclists protesting against closure of illegal tracks at the back of Nerang, Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon this week announced $200,000 in master planning inside the national park.

Mountain trail bike rider at the Reedy Creek tracks at the Glossy Black Cockatoo Reserve in the Gold Coast hinterland.

The LNP’s David Crisafulli had hoped to get the jump, and in a media conference later confirmed the party in government would release all the details of an audit on trails and work with stakeholders to improve tracks.

Enter Gaven Greens candidate Sally Spain, who vowed the national park “cannot become the exclusive plaything of a sport or tourist hide for the affluent”.

REVEALED: NERANG BIKE TRAILS TO BE SAVED, PROTECTED

Area councillor Peter Young and his neighbouring colleague Glenn Tozer have a difficult balancing act, working forward with cycling groups and placating residents about parking.

The truth of it is the council sits on a lengthy report which since COVID-19 underestimates the value of this tourism attraction. More strategic planning is needed – and fast.

Councillors in a closed session late last year received a report that considered a consultant’s recommendations to Mountain Bike Australia.

A mountain bike track rider takes a corner at the Reedy Creek tracks in the Glossy Black Cockatoo Reserve in the Gold Coast hinterland.

Consultants suggested these hubs, to be developed to cater for international, interstate and Queensland tourists, needed to contain more than 80km of trails. The Coast has 20km of formalised trails. The Palaszczuk Government is working towards a network of just under 75km.

Council officers were cautious in their assessment. They recommended about $150,000 in spending, aware some tracks were near high conservation areas and required upgrading.

About $3.2 million was spent during the Commonwealth Games on the Nerang Mountain Bike Trails, building a 5km cross-country track, refurbishing the clubhouse and adding spectator viewing areas along with car parking around the velodrome.

Before the trail was developed, just more than 13,000 cyclists used it each month. By 2017-18 the number increased to more than 21,000 – a 61 per cent boost.

Riders in the Reedy Creek area at the Black Cockatoo Reserve tracks in the Gold Coast hinterland.

The report noted the city’s two not-for-profit operations run by volunteer clubs at Boomerang Park Golf Course at Mudgeeraba and Numinbah Valley Gravity Park.

Cr Tozer estimates more than half a million dollars has been invested by the city in mountain biking in the past two years. He recalls the “Outlook Freeride” mountain bikers initially using a reserve at the end of Worley Drive, Gilston, facing development approvals and needing a new site.

ENVIRONMENTAL BATTLE ERUPTS OVER GOLD COAST HINTERLAND

A perfect intersection of sorts was found with the King brothers “on the lookout” for ways they could generate new income from their nine-hole Boomerang Farm golf course.

Councillor Glenn Tozer — mountain bike riding can be low cost high yielding tourism attraction. Picture: Jerad Williams.

“A loose agreement was struck. Now regional downhill mountain biking events are hosted there,” Cr Tozer said.

The council report estima-ted mountain biking could generate more than $47 million across 10 years. Cyclists buying more pricey bikes will tell you it is much more now.

“The impact of COVID restrictions which has increased cycling, meetings like this between stakeholders, and the Coast will get low-cost, high-yielding tourism attraction,” Cr Tozer said.

Boomerang Farm shows the road forward between authorities and private operators.