Maydena Bike Park team launch bid to expand bike trails in Meehan Range

The proponents behind a bid to expand the number of trails and services at an existing mountain bike site say they will not restrict access to current users of the area.

Maydena Bike Park managing director Simon French is pushing for a new set of bike trails in the Meehan Range, on Hobart’s Eastern Shore. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

THE brains trust behind the successful Maydena Bike Park have set the wheels in motion on a new world-class mountain bike project in the Meehan Range, on Hobart’s Eastern Shore.

Key elements of the Dirt Art proposal include several new descending trails, a year-round uplift service, cafe, bike hire, bike school and larger carpark.

The upgrades will not privatise or restrict access to any existing mountain bike trails, with all new trails associated with the development also proposed to be freely accessible to the public.

Dirt Art was given the green light to continue working on the project last week through the State Government’s expression of interest process, which seeks submissions from private investors and tourism operators to develop sensitive tourism experiences in Tasmania’s parks and reserves.

During the next phase, Dirt Art will undertake a number of public and stakeholder consultation sessions, which will be used to inform design plans.

Managing director Simon French said the new trails would be firmly geared towards beginner and intermediate riders.

“Dirt Art is committed to working with the community to ensure that the project enhances the current mountain bike experience for all Meehan Range trail users, regardless of whether they engage with the venture commercially or not,” Mr French said.

“Those who prefer to pedal can continue to ride the Meehan Range as they always have but we are working towards a booking-free shuttle service.

“This model will allow riders to catch an uplift once, or 20 times, mixing up their descending with other trail riding in the area.”

Jason Unwin, who has been riding in the Meehan Range for more than 10 years and co-ordinates trail volunteer maintenance works, said the carpark was already “over capacity” most weekends.

“We see this project as a potential solution to ticking off some of the well needed infrastructure,” Mr Unwin said.

“It’s so unique to have something like the Meehan Range so close to a capital city and any other infrastructure would only make the place more popular.”

A State Government spokesman said the Meehan Range project would contribute towards making Tasmania the “environmental tourism capital of the world”.

“Projects like this will unlock new sensible tourism opportunities, continue the growth in our visitor economy and provide more opportunities for people to visit our precious natural areas,” he said.