DRAFT TASMANIAN MOUNTAIN BIKE PLAN Prepared for the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts - Sport and Recreation Tasmania Jupe/Bergshoeff and the Hobart City Council Dirt Art www.tim-smit.com Inspiring Place with DirtArt September 2009 Draft TASMANIAN MOUNTAIN BIKE PLAN prepared for Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts – Sport and Recreation Tasmania Disclaimer: The Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan 2009 has been prepared by Inspiring Place Pty Ltd for the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts – Sport and Recreation Tasmania. This document is the work of Inspiring Place Pty Ltd and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the State Government. Inspiring Place Pty Ltd Environmental Planning, Landscape Architecture, Tourism & Recreation 208 Collins St Hobart TAS 7000 T: 03) 6231-1818 F: 03) 6231 1819 E: [email protected] ACN 58 684 792 133 T ABLE OF C ONTENTS Summary ................................................................................................................................... i Section 1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Purpose of the Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan ................................................ 3 1.3 Process.................................................................................................................. 4 1.4 Acknowledgements.............................................................................................. 4 Section 2 Mountain Biking In Tasmania: Trends, Infrastructure and Tourism Products ............................................................................................................. 9 2.1 Trends.................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.1 Participation and Demographics............................................................. 9 2.1.2 Primary Rider Motivators ........................................................................ 19 2.2 Existing Infrastructure and Products ................................................................. 19 2.2.1 The Southern Region ............................................................................. 20 2.2.2 The Northern Region .............................................................................. 22 2.2.3 The North-West Region.......................................................................... 24 2.2.4 Mountain Bike Developments Being Investigated ...................................................................................................... 27 2.2.5 State Events ........................................................................................... 30 2.2.6 Existing Tours and Products................................................................... 36 Section 3 Consultation Findings............................................................................................. 41 3.1 Consultation Process........................................................................................... 41 3.2 Key Findings ......................................................................................................... 42 3.2.1 Community Forums ................................................................................ 42 3.2.2 Land Manager and Key Stakeholder Forums......................................... 43 3.2.3 Mountain Bike Rider Survey ................................................................... 45 Section 4 A Vision for Tasmanian mountain Bike Riding..................................................... 53 4.1 SWOT Analysis ..................................................................................................... 53 4.2 Issues .................................................................................................................... 56 4.2.1. Governance and Policy Issues .............................................................. 56 4.2.2 Planning, Management and Resourcing Issues ..................................... 57 4.2.3 Gaps in Supply to Meet Demand............................................................ 59 4.2.4 Public Liability and Risk Management Issues ........................................ 60 4.2.5 Marketing and Promotional Issues ......................................................... 60 4.3 Vision for Tasmanian Mountain Bike Riding ..................................................... 61 4.4 Future Directions.................................................................................................. 62 Section 5 Making It happen ..................................................................................................... 67 5.1 Governance and Leadership ............................................................................... 67 5.1.1 Context ................................................................................................... 67 5.1.2 Recommended Actions .......................................................................... 69 5.2 Hierarchy of MTB Trails ....................................................................................... 70 5.2.1 Context ................................................................................................... 70 5.2.2 Recommended Actions .......................................................................... 80 5.3 Enabling Policy and Legislation.......................................................................... 81 5.3.1 Context ................................................................................................... 81 5.3.2 Recommended Actions........................................................................... 83 5.4 Classification of Trails and Signage System ...................................................... 85 5.4.1 Context ................................................................................................... 85 5.4.2 Recommended Actions........................................................................... 90 5.5 Innovative Trail Design and Construction.......................................................... 90 5.5.1 Context ................................................................................................... 90 5.5.2 Recommended Actions........................................................................... 92 5.6 Resource Commitment ........................................................................................ 94 5.6.1 Context ................................................................................................... 94 5.6.2 Recommended Actions........................................................................... 98 5.7 Partnership between Land Managers and Users............................................... 98 5.7.1 Context ................................................................................................... 98 5.7.2 Recommended Actions........................................................................... 100 5.8 Leading Events and Products ............................................................................. 101 5.8.1 Context ................................................................................................... 101 5.8.2 Recommended Actions........................................................................... 104 5.9 Marketing and Promotion .................................................................................... 105 5.9.1 Context ................................................................................................... 105 5.9.2 Recommended Actions........................................................................... 109 5.10 Education ............................................................................................................ 109 5.10.1 Context ................................................................................................. 109 5.10.2 Recommended Actions......................................................................... 113 5.11 Risk Management ............................................................................................... 114 5.11.1 Context ................................................................................................. 114 5.11.2 Recommended Actions......................................................................... 116 5.12 Research.............................................................................................................. 116 5.12.1 Context ................................................................................................. 116 5.12.2 Recommended Actions......................................................................... 117 Section 6 Action Plan ............................................................................................................... 121 SUMMARY B ACKGROUND The impetus to develop a strategic mountain bike plan for Tasmania has been driven largely by the significant increase in the popularity of the activity locally, nationally, and more broadly on an international scale. The increase in local participation has resulted in a situation where the demand for mountain bike (MTB) trails significantly exceeds the available opportunities. This increase in popularity has also placed considerable demand on land managers to both provide and manage mountain