Omeo has celebrated the opening of a 114-kilometre mountain bike park - with trails suitable for beginners through to seasoned riders - that will anchor year-round adventure tourism and boost the town's economy.
The $10 million park, opened on Friday 5 December, delivers world-class riding across nearby Sam Hill and Mount Mesley.
Council CEO Fiona Weigall led proceedings, noting that the park represents "a proud moment for Omeo, made possible by the perseverance, ideas and advocacy of the community".
Speeches from local Cr Sonia Buckley, and Omeo local Natalie O'Connell, trail network constructor Ben Lohse, and mountain park committee member Leigh Fulton spoke of the town's connection to the new park.
Cr Buckley emphasised the long-term value of the projects, saying they are "economic drivers and community builders", with the trails already bringing new energy into the town.
Designed for riders of all ages and skill levels, the network links the alpine slopes with the town centre and reflects nearly a decade of community vision, planning and partnership. Following the opening a big group of local and visiting riders hit the trails.
The project was supported by the Victorian Government, the Australian Government's Building Better Regions Fund, the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, and Council.
The opening also acknowledged two other significant achievements in Omeo - a streetscape upgrade and flood-remediation work.
The Omeo streetscape upgrade has reshaped Day Avenue into a safer, greener and more welcoming town centre with new pedestrian links, street trees, decorative paving and seating. This project was jointly funded by Council, and the Victorian Government's Living Local Regional Fund and Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program.
At Livingstone Park, flood-recovery works have delivered rock chutes, vegetation, and erosion protection, strengthening the township's main recreation space - and the key trailhead to the bike park network - for the future. These improvements were supported by Emergency Recovery Victoria and Council. Further works are underway, with a weir upgrade planned to commence early 2026.
Following the ribbon-cutting, a full weekend of celebrations unfolded, including live music, social rides with the trail crew, and a film night.
Local businesses reported strong visitation as riders and families explored the new network and the town.
