Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan Main Report Sport and Recreation Tasmania Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts About this document The Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan is made up of four documents: » Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan: Summary » Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan: Main Report » Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan: Attachments » Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan: Marketing Strategy This document is the Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan: Main Report The Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan was prepared by Inspiring Place on behalf of Sport and Recreation Tasmania. Cite as: Sport and Recreation Tasmania (2009), Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan: Main Report, Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts, Hobart. Contact us A copy of the plan can be downloaded from the Sport and Recreation Tasmania website: www.development.tas.gov.au/sportrec/mtbplan For more information, please contact: Sport and Recreation Tasmania GPO Box 646 Hobart, Tasmania 7001 Phone: 1800 252 476 Email: [email protected] Published December 2009 ISBN 978-1-921527-05-0 © 2009 The Crown in right of Tasmania, represented by Sport and Recreation Tasmania. All rights reserved. a bc de f g hi Photographic credits Front cover a LMBC 12 Hour Race, Four Springs, Northern Tasmania. Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Brad Harris b Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park, Glenorchy. Photo: Simon French, Dirt Art c Wildside MTB Race, Ocean Beach, West Coast of Tasmania. Photo: Nic Deka d North-South Track, Wellinton Park, Hobart. Photo: Hobart City Council and Jupe-Bergshoeff e Blue Tier, North East of Tasmania. Photo: Keith Ryan f Blue Tier, North East of Tasmania. Photo: Keith Ryan g Bridestowe Lavender Farm, North East of Tasmania. Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Enrico Caraciollo h Close-up. Photo: Keith Ryan i Maria Island, East Coast of Tasmania. Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Brad Harris Section One Rowena Fry, Houffalize World Cup, Belgium. Photo: Russ Baker Two Mark Webber Challenge, Coles Bay, East Coast of Tasmania. Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Jerry Galea Three Maria Island, East Coast of Tasmania. Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Brad Harris Four Wildside MTB Race, Trial Harbour, West Coast of Tasmania. Photo: Tourism Tasmania and Rick Eaves Five North-South Track, Wellington Park, Hobart. Photo: Hobart City Council and Jupe-Bergshoeff Six Tarkine Adventure Centre, Dismal Swamp, North West of Tasmania. Photo: Keith Ryan Foreword Mountain biking is a fast growing sport that has become very popular in Tasmania and around the world. The growth and popularity of the sport has presented us with exciting opportunities to encourage healthy, active lifestyles as well as build on Tasmania’s profile as an outstanding nature- based tourism and adventure destination. The Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan (The Plan) provides a framework that will allow the state to move forward with confidence on the coordinated development, management and marketing of mountain bike opportunities in Tasmania. The Plan will guide the development of new opportunities and management of existing opportunities for mountain biking in the state and ensure that Tasmania continues to be a great place to live. Strategic development and marketing of our iconic wild rides, mountain bike adventure centres and other high quality trails will complement the Tasmanian Brand and ensure that Tasmania remains an attractive destination for visitors. Development of The Plan involved extensive consultation with the community, land managers and other stakeholders with an interest in mountain biking. The positive response from the community and land managers indicates the strong interest in providing a diversity of mountain bike opportunities in Tasmania and ensuring the activity is sustainably managed. The Plan has been considered and supported by the steering committee, and as Sport and Recreation Minister I congratulate all partners involved and look forward to the positive initiatives it will generate. Michelle O’Byrne Minister for Sport and Recreation Table of contents Summary .................................................................................................................................... ii Section 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................2 1.2 Purpose of the Tasmanian Mountain Bike Plan ....................................................................4 1.3 Process .......................................................................................................................................4 1.4 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................5 Section 2 Mountain biking in Tasmania: trends, infrastructure and tourism products ...................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Trends ........................................................................................................................................7 2.1.1 Participation and demographics .......................................................................................................... 7 2.1.2 Primary rider motivators ...................................................................................................................... 18 2.2 Existing infrastructure and products ......................................................................................18 2.2.1 The southern region .............................................................................................................................. 19 2.2.2 The northern region .............................................................................................................................. 21 2.2.3 The northwest region ............................................................................................................................ 23 2.2.4 Statewide observations about needs and gaps ............................................................................... 24 2.2.5 Mountain bike developments being investigated ............................................................................ 26 2.2.6 State events .............................................................................................................................................. 29 2.2.7 Existing tours and products ................................................................................................................. 35 Section 3 Consultation findings ................................................................................................ 38 3.1 Consultation process ................................................................................................................38 3.2 Key findings ................................................................................................................................39 3.2.1 Community forums ................................................................................................................................ 39 3.2.2 Land manager and key stakeholder forums ..................................................................................... 40 3.2.3 Mountain bike rider survey .................................................................................................................. 42 Section 4 A vision for Tasmanian mountain bike riding ......................................................... 47 4.1 SWOT analysis ..........................................................................................................................47 4.2 Issues ..........................................................................................................................................50 4.2.1 Governance and policy issues ............................................................................................................. 50 4.2.2 Planning, management and resourcing issues .................................................................................. 51 4.2.3 Gaps in supply to meet demand ......................................................................................................... 53 4.2.4 Public liability and risk management issues ...................................................................................... 54 4.2.5 Marketing and promotional issues ..................................................................................................... 55 4.3 Vision for Tasmanian mountain bike riding ..........................................................................55 4.4 Future directions ......................................................................................................................57 Section 5 Making it happen ....................................................................................................... 61 5.1 Governance and leadership ..................................................................................................... 61 5.1.1 Context ...................................................................................................................................................... 61 5.1.2 Recommended actions .......................................................................................................................... 63 5.2 Hierarchy of MTB trails ..........................................................................................................