New mountain bike trails open in George Town
A North Tasmanian town has become the latest Tassie mountain bike riding destination. CHECK OUT THE TRACKS >>
Launceston
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MOUNTAIN bike riders will now have 15.5km of new tracks near George Town to put to the test.
There are six green trails, the Hebie Jeebies, Gadanga Dang and 6061 are blue trails, and there is also the Megawatt black trail now open to the public at Mount George.
George Town Greg Kieser said it was an exciting opportunity for the local community.
“We are the closest, major world class trail to Launceston and for anybody who is coming into Launceston airport it makes sense to come to George Town, have a ride and then go on to our sister tracks of Derby and St Helens and get the whole eastern Tasmanian experience with mountain biking.”
The 15.5km of track is the first stage of the development, with the second stage now under construction adding another 60km to the trail network.
A trail reception centre is also scheduled to open in George Town next year.
Mr Kieser said it is expected the mountain bike trails will attract an additional 50,000 visitors to the area a year.
“It gives us the opportunity to float up the tourism and visitor economy to compliment the industrial base that we already have and to diversify the economy so we are more resilient as a community,” Mr Kieser said.
“It will give the community a healthy activity as well a backdrop to build careers and futures.”
Liberal MP and former George Town mayor Bridget Archer said it has been several years in the making and it was exciting to see the trails open.
“Come down to George Town have a look, bring your bike, bring your kids and have a good day out,” she said.
Mountain bike tracks have also recently been developed in Zeehan, Latrobe and St Helens.
The George Town mountain bike trails iare the outcome of a partnership between the George Town Council, the federal government and Bell Bay Aluminium.
The council secured $4.4 million for the project from the federal government’s community development program.
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