REGIONAL TRAIL ADVOCACY – MAKE YOURSELF HEARD!

If you’ve wanted more trails, or better trails in your area – are you doing anything about? In Brisbane, BORRA has been created for advocacy and change, to make a positive impact on the trails riders have, and the trails riders want. So we asked for some more details.

What is BORRA anyway?

The Brisbane Off-Road Riders Alliance (BORRA) is a voice for the mountain biking community of the Brisbane area. We advocate for the protection and maintenance of trails as environmental leaders, focused on sustainability through education & action.

Can I follow BORRA’s progress?

Yes! At borra.org, sign up there for a regular newsletter, or look us up on Facebook (BORRA).

What are the main goals for BORRA?

Mission - BORRA exists to give local off road cycling enthusiasts a voice for open, respectful communication with all stakeholders involved in sustainable growth of an outstanding trail network centred on Mt Coot-tha to benefit local riders, businesses, community groups and visitors. Vision - BORRA will work with our partners to advocate for an environmentally sustainable trail network within the City of Brisbane that will provide long term economic, environmental, health and social benefits for the community. By building to an agreed master plan, BORRA will create a legacy for the Brisbane Community that puts our trails on the world map as an example of what can be achieved when a vibrant local community engages with official stakeholders to balance a rapidly growing sport with eco-tourism and sustainable greenspace utilisation.

What has BORRA achieved so far?

In February 2020 we wrote to the Chair of Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee (EPS) expressing concern about the state of the trails in Gap Creek. This has happened because there has been no trail maintenance in over 3 years, a dramatic increase in the numbers of mountain bikers using the trails, but mostly the impact of the extreme weather Queensland had experienced at the time. The formal discussions about accrediting BORRA to assist with maintenance started in July 2020 and has taken many hours of meeting with EPS to culminate in a Memorandum of Understanding to cover remediation of existing trails for 6 months. The first successful trail care occurred on Saturday 20 February on the Whipbird Way trail, a huge success with over 30 volunteers organised in three teams. The plan is to continue a monthly trail maintainence program. In partnership with Gap State High School we are proposing a new climbing trail and a new descending trail linking Highwood Road trails to The Gap beside Moggil Road fire trail. This will allow residents from The Gap much safer access to the trails at Gap Creek and keep kids away from busy roads.

In two years from now, where will BORRA be?

BORRA will be riding a lot more sustainably local singletrack in more areas of Brisbane - local trails for local people so that it’s easier and has less impact on the environment to ride off road.

We’ll be working with council and other club-based trail-care alliances under a formal and well-funded trail-care program with BCC committing resources to regular trail maintenance and working with BORRA to educate the community on trail building’s evolving best practices.

We will also be looking at rolling out the school trail programs to other areas.

So - how do I join?

Membership is free via borra.org but we definitely welcome donations to cover the costs of our insurance and communication channels, purchase materials for advocacy, tools, equipment, and most important food and drinks for our wonderful volunteers and trail builders to use during trail days and to develop education programs about sustainable mountain bike trail building.

If you like the sound of what BORRA are doing, why not contact your local land manager for the trails in your area, and see if you can join or set up a proactive group for maintenance and advocacy?