Environmental groups offer alternative routes for Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley Escarpment Mountain Bike Master Plan

Environmental groups have vowed to keep up the pressure on council to abandon plans for mountain bike trails through Redwood Park, while putting forward alternative routes.

Darling Downs Environment Council community organiser Paul King addresses the crowd gathered to protest against the further development of mountain bike trails in Redwood Park.

Environmental groups have vowed to continue to put pressure on Toowoomba Regional Council to rethink its plans to develop mountain bike trails through Redwood Park.

Close to 100 protesters gathered at the Civic Green on Tuesday to voice their opposition to the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley Escarpment Mountain Bike Master Plan.

A key recommendation of the plan is the development of an additional 68.4km of mountain bike trails, including 24 new trails, in Jubilee and Redwood parks.

Protestors gather outside Toowoomba City Hall in opposition to Toowoomba Regional Council's plans to develop mountain bike trails through Redwood Park.

Darling Downs Environment Council community organiser Paul King said the group was dedicated to preserving Redwood Park and this week’s protest was just the beginning.

“Our goal is to have the park transformed into a conservation or national park so that it’s permanently protected,” he said.

“That’s the next phase of the campaign after we secure the park from the proposal to build tracks through it.”

Mr King said with Toowoomba Regional Council not meeting again until January, the Darling Downs Environment Council would lobby the State Government to ensure its previous commitment to the park as a haven for flora and fauna was honoured.

Protestors gather outside Toowoomba City Hall in opposition to Toowoomba Regional Council's plans to develop mountain bike trails through Redwood Park.

While there’s opposition to the development of mountain bike trails through Redwood Park, Mr King said he wasn’t opposed to the sport and the development of other trails elsewhere.

Mr King said they had offered up alternative solutions to ensure the sport remained a popular attraction to the region while still protecting endangered and vulnerable native wildlife and plant species.

“Our position is that we can have both,” Mr King said.

“We have provided council with alternate maps and routes that would meet the need of the mountain bike community while minimising the environmental impact.

“From day one, our position has been that we support alternative bike trails that don’t cut through the park’s ecosystem or dry rainforest of Redwood Park.

“It’s vital that the park is left for conservation value. We aim to educate people first on the park’s value and take the debate from there.”

Garth Hamilton MP, David Warner and Juliet Redding. Federal Government announces committment of $3.33m to the Escarpment Mountain Bike Master Plan. Thursday, October 7, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Last month Groom MP Garth Hamilton announced $3.33 million in Federal Government funding for the Great Divide Mountain Bike Destination project that encompasses the council’s Redwood Park plans.

Mr Hamilton said he trusted the processes Toowoomba Regional Council had in place to assess the environmental impacts of any future mountain biking trails in Redwood Park.

“The community expects we can find a balance between preserving the beauty of our escarpment and enjoying activities there,” he said.

“The Great Divide Mountain Bike Destination project will be another way to get people who might not usually visit the area to come and appreciate its natural advantages.”