The Bucket List Just Got Bigger!
After years of detailed planning by the West Coast Council, extensive community and stakeholder input and with generous financial assistance from both the Commonwealth and Tasmania Governments, the first of the newly constructed Mt Owen Mountain Bike (MTB) Trails have now finally been opened to the public in Queenstown - with all remaining mountain trails to come on-line as completed. On top of that, the Planning Permit process for the next major MTB Trail Network to be built in the region (in the Heemskirk Range just outside Zeehan) is nearing completion - with construction slated to begin shortly, after all approvals are obtained.
Recognising that these developments are significant and even 'bucket list' offerings, but only steps in a bigger more exciting tourism opportunity for the West Coast, the West Coast Council is determined to follow the strategic priorities identified with the community in the last few years, and to work further with a range of stakeholders on additional MTB Trail options.
In 2020 Council commissioned the development of a draft Report that would identify further options for future trail concepts catering to a broad market of riders, with a focus on creating highly appealing, iconic riding experiences to attract MTB enthusiasts and families. A series of concepts and ideas spread across the entire region have now been identified by renowned MTB experts Dirt Art Pty Ltd. The goal being to ultimately create a nationally significant and extensive MTB offering for visiting riders to the stunning West Coast region i.e. to identify further MTB Trail building concepts that are not only iconic, but are designed to appeal to locals and visiting riders, and therefore grow the economic development outcomes in the region by adding further hero trail experiences or 'bucket list' rides. Dirt Art's draft Report is now being presented to the public and other stakeholders as part of a 3-week consultation exercise.
Acting Mayor Shane Pitt said:
