Mountain bike trails for Herberton Range State Forest

Queensland National Parks, Sport and Recreation Minister Steve Dickson has announced $250,000 will be invested in creating more mountain bike trails in far north Queensland.

Minister Dickson said funding had been allocated in the Budget through the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) capital works program to build more trails in Herberton Range State Forest and Baldy Mountain Forest Reserve near Atherton.

Minister Dickson highlighted the Queensland Government's commitment to opening up Queensland's national parks and State forests for everyone to enjoy, stating "the QPWS is working with the Tablelands Outdoor Recreation Alliance (TORA) to create more mountain bike trails, providing recreational riders with a high quality mountain bike trail-riding experience.

"This funding will see the second and final stage of the project completed by June 2013, delivering more than 15 kilometres of single track mountain bike trails of varying degrees of difficulty in the Sylvia Creek area.

"Riders will be able to enjoy cycling through open eucalypt forest with views of the Tableland and mountainous scenery."

Minister Dickson said the trails were being developed in accordance with International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) guidelines, and would be constructed by QPWS and contractors, adding "they'll be taking into account factors like soil type, weather, environmental sustainability and catering for varying skills levels through different grades of trails.

"When mountain bike tracks are designed and built correctly they should have minimal impact on the natural environment.

"These trails will be a wonderful addition to the many recreational opportunities in the State forests and reserves of the Atherton Tablelands."

Minister Dickson said he was focused on finding similar ways to open up National Parks land for recreational use and eco-tourism opportunities across Queensland.

He concluded "in particular I am looking at a proposal to open fire trails and management roads in the majority of Queensland's National Parks to mountain biking and horse-riding," "Eco-tourism is set to be a major part of our plan for growing the tourism pillar of Queensland's economy, which is why we are working to increase certainty and opportunity for operators across our national park estate."