Environmental groups form committee to fight Toowoomba Regional Council’s mountain bike plan through Redwood Park

Environmental groups have banded together to form a committee, with the aim of getting the Toowoomba Regional Council to change its mountain biking plan.

Hugh Krenske of Friends of the Escarpment Parks Toowoomba at Redwood Park. Photo Bev Lacey

A new steering committee has been formed by environmental groups in Toowoomba to oppose a plan to building mountain biking trails through a delicate ecosystem on the escarpment.

More than 60 people gathered at Redwood Park on Saturday from numerous groups, with the goal of creating a strategy to stop the Toowoomba Regional Council constructing numerous trails through the park as part of a major masterplan.

The campaign will be known as the Save/We Love Redwood Committee.

The proposal plans to build nearly 70km of new trails across the Toowoomba Escarpment, some of which would run through Redwood Park.

Plans for mountain biking trails in Redwood Park as part of the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley Escarpment Mountain Bike Master Plan.

Groups say the park is home to a delicate ecosystem system featuring many endangered birds and animals.

Darling Downs Environment Council community organiser Paul King said the council had not consulted with enough groups when developing its strategy to encourage mountain biking.

“The appearance was that up until now some interests had been favoured, while others were forgotten,” he said in a statement.

“The meeting noted that early consultations had only included a select group, including the proponent Dirt Art.

“The meeting believed that that groups such as the Field Naturalists, Bushwalkers, Friends of Escarpment Parks, Bird groups, and neighbours should all be formally consulted.

“A request for this will soon be made to both Lockyer and Toowoomba Councils.

“A steering committee of groups and citizens was appointed to guide the campaign.

“It was universally held that the values of the park would be irrevocably diminished if the mountain bike track proposal was adopted in its current form.”

For more information about the campaign, ring Paul King on 0455 619 454.