Hidden Valley Eco-Park given approval to begin works on Whitsunday mountain bike trails

Council has given the green light to have boots on the ground for a 1000 acre “club-house” eco-park which could change the face of Whitsunday’s tourism.

Aerial Hero of the Hidden Valley and Twin Creeks Eco Park, both nestled between the Conway National Park, off Duval Road in Preston. Photo: Contributed

The first mountain bike trails of a 1000 acre eco-park were given the nod of approval in a move which could fill a major tourism hole in the region.

The first stage of the development, which was waived through during the Whitsunday Regional Council meeting on Wednesday, March 26, is expected to see the delivery of 11km of mountain bike trails ranging from beginner to intermediate by Christmas.

Contour Works have been tasked with building the Mountain Bike Trails for the Twin Creeks Eco Park. Photo: Contributed

It’s part of Blue Jeep Investment’s larger masterplan spanning 18 years which will combine a new residential estate called Hidden Valley with an outdoor adventure park called Twin Creeks Eco Park, both nestled between the Conway National Park, off Duval Road in Preston.

The second stage awaiting approval will bring the rest of the 30 to 40 kilometres of wilderness and more advanced trails weaving through waterfalls and cathedral fig trees.

The project’s communications manager, Ashley Rees said it would bring a “club house energy” to a region dying for land-based activities.

“The concept of the masterplan is to create the opportunity to live, work and play in the same spot,” he said.

The project aims to bridge a major gap between mainland and water based attractions in the Whitsundays which Mr Rees said has been driving young people away from the region.

“People are leaving the area to find employment and their passion,” he said.

“Even young families, teenagers are leaving to find other facilities.”

Other inland developments such as the Whitsunday Skyway cable car and Heart of the Reef Discovery Centre have been earmarked for the region but a Whitsundays Destination Management Plan said despite this, attracting visitors in the off season for longer periods was still a major challenge for the region.

Mr Rees said the Hidden Valley project has already begun ticking those boxes with local residents, from those in the mines, young families, to retirees having already moved into the 39 new residential lots.

Another 31 homes are expected to be delivered in time for the trails.

The first stage will deliver the first 11kms of Mountain Bike Trails ready by Christmas. Photo: Contributed

Mayor Ry Collins said the project would give the Whitsundays the chance to attract a new type of visitor to the region.

“It’s definitely a different type of product to what we have here now,” he said.

“We have some fantastic walking trails that draw people in but I think with the mountain bike segment, there’s a lot of momentum behind it, it’s a growing sport and you’ve got a lot of people that are quite enthusiastic about it.”

Contour Works who are responsible for Victoria’s Mount Buller trails and the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park in Cairns will be tasked with shoveling the slopes, with 800 of the 1000 acres of wilderness to remain protected natural reserve.

To help navigate and maintain the protected bushland, three local First Nations people from the Gia Ngaro will kick off the region’s first federally-funded Indigenous Ranger Program, bringing employment to local communities and local knowledge to tourism operators.

Mr Rees said the $2.2 million program was one of the aspects of the program which he was most proud.

“We’ve been working with them for a few years and we just got the go ahead,” he said.

Construction on the trails is expected to begin July 1 with an estimated timeframe of 16 weeks until completion.

The mountain bike trail head - where descending trails finish their rides - will be at the Palm Creek Valley and will include a car park, shuttle road and a progressive jump park.

Originally published as Hidden Valley Eco-Park given approval to begin works on Whitsunday mountain bike trails