Peddling bike trail plans
Labor to make tracks in Nerang Forest legitimate
THE Palaszczuk Government has announced plans to protect and develop the legal bike tracks in the Nerang Forest after a campaign by protesting cyclists.
A Bulletin report on Monday detailed the concerns of mountain bike riders who discovered signage placed on one of the trails at the weekend.
A cyclist said: “They’ve put a closure sign up in an area that leads to multiple trails, at least nine different trails. That’s up to 20km of tracks.”
Mountain bike clubs want a master plan for the area and joint investment by the state government and council to help them to protect what they predict will be a huge tourism asset for the city given renewed interest in cycling since
COVID-19 restrictions. Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon yesterday revealed the government would spend money to protect the trails.
“Since 2019 the Palaszczuk Government has more than doubled the number of mountain bike trails in Nerang National Park – adding an extra 14km of formalised track,” she said.
“As part of our economic recovery plan we are continuing to invest in the park and I’m pleased to announce $200,000 for a co-designed project that will formalise a number of mountain bike trails in Nerang National Park, and remove others that have been constructed illegally in ecologically sensitive areas.
“We must get the balance right between the recreational use and the protection of the Nerang National Park’s unique natural values.”
Gold Coast Mountain Bike Club president Dr Chris Thompson, who attended a meeting with Ms Scanlon and officers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, expected to receive a copy of a proposed draft trail plan by the end of this week. “There will be two weeks to look at the plans and make comments,” he said.
Dr Thompson’s aim was to have the material available for members to provide input next week to keep legal trails at a high standard.
Shadow environment spokesman David Crisafulli said the LNP would end the Palaszczuk Government’s practice of closing mountain bike trails throughout the Nerang National Park.