ADVENTURE TOURISM PUSH BACKED
Crisafulli wants to double track size on Range
A BOLD tourism plan to more than double mountain biking trails on the Toowoomba Escarpment has been endorsed by the Queensland Opposition.
The plan, which would expand the current 26km of trails on federal government-owned land, has been devised by Mayor Paul Antonio and Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts.
LNP tourism and environment spokesman David Crisafulli will fly to Toowoomba today to endorse the adventure tourism concept, calling on support from the Palaszczuk Government for it.
“This one, that Trevor has raised and that I’m going to work with council on, is a win,” he told The Chronicle.
“It will take the mountain biking experience in Toowoomba to the next level.
It won’t just be a short ride – it’s something people can spend a couple of days here for.”
The concept will use surplus land owned by Defence Housing Australia and could include extra features to make riders more comfortable and connected.
“That could mean better access, that might mean some journey facilities,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“The State Government will need to lead, but with the right leadership this means it could work as a tourism drawcard.
“Trevor’s role is to bring the federal, state and local governments together. Council likes it and they are keen to see something occur.”
Mayor Paul Antonio said he would love to see the project get off the ground.
“We have just begun to have some very serious conversations with the biking community, both mountain and BMX, and we believe with the possibility of having the 2032 Olympics here, mountain biking could be one of the sports featured in Toowoomba,” he said.
“We’re very supportive of developing that.”