Today marks another milestone towards Collie's future as an adventure destination with the opening of the brand new 10 kilometre Kylie Trail.
It forms part of the McGowan Government's $10 million Collie Adventure Trails initiative, also known as the Wambenger Trails, which is establishing the town as a premier trail and adventure destination.
Kylie is the Noongar word for throwing stick or boomerang, which is emblematic of the trail with its crescent shape and the full loop returning to wherever the rider started.
This trail runs through Westralia Conservation Park just south of Collie, offers stunning views of the Collie River Valley and is open to all levels of experience. Riders using adaptive bikes can also access this trail.
Work is also underway to complete a further 47km of trail as part of stages 2 and 3 of the Wellington National Park trail network with tenders awarded to two Western Australian trail construction companies, Magic Dirt Trailworx and Three Chillies Design.
Stages 2 and 3 will link Wellington Dam, Honeymoon Pool and the existing mountain bike trail network at Mount Lennard through the spectacular Collie River Valley. A total of 47km of new trail will be constructed with Magic Dirt Trailworx building 31km and Three Chillies Designs building 16km.
New trails and facilities showcasing Collie's natural landscapes and cultural heritage are being developed to attract local, national and international mountain bike and bushwalking tourists, providing a significant economic boost to the region.
Nearly 110km of mountain bike trails are being built, including 58km added to Wellington National Park, 29km in Arklow forest, north of Collie, as well as new mountain bike jump trails linking existing trails in Arklow forest.
In addition, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is improving facilities at Wellington Dam to cater for increasing numbers of visitors coming to the new trails and to view the mural on Wellington Dam wall. This includes expanded parking, more shared-use trails to mural viewing points and upgraded kiosk/café facilities at Wellington Dam.
The new trails will be opened progressively and are expected to be completed by December 2023.
As stated by Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"This is fantastic news for Collie. We have seen from other trail towns in Tasmania and Victoria that they bring visitors and that, in turn, creates jobs.
"Trails connect people with the nature and culture of the area and that helps to protect the parks. The trails also provide great physical and mental health benefits.
"Visitors who spend significant time in the region will support the local towns and businesses. The McGowan Government is working to ensure a brighter future for the people of Collie by creating a recreation and conservation hotspot, boosting regional tourism and creating jobs."
As stated by Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
"Getting out and about on bikes is a great way to keep fit, engage with nature and enjoy the beautiful landscapes and cultural heritage of the region. And for keen riders, the new trails which will be opened in 2023 include a 200 metre elevation change from the top of Mt Lennard to the Collie River, featuring some long descents and leg-pumping climbs.
"Since stage 1 opened in October 2021, the mountain bike trails in Wellington National Park have become a popular attraction. I look forward to watching the development of Stages Two and Three that will appeal to cyclists and adventure seekers of all ages."
As stated by Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns:
"The launch of the Collie Adventure Trails initiative has transformed the town of Collie. It is stamping itself as a must-visit location with mountain biking and trails enthusiasts.
"This next stage of development will build on the significant investment by the McGowan Government, creating local jobs in the emerging hospitality and tourism sectors in Collie.
"If you haven't visited us yet, these new trails will offer a great reason to pack your bikes and bags ready for your next adventure tourism experience in our spectacular part of WA."
