Tablelands Region Cycling Strategy 2023-33
Project Overview
Thank you to everyone who attended a pop-up or workshop session and those who submitted Quick Poll or Survey responses. All your thoughts and ideas will now be compiled and used alongside the information gleaned from trail and route audits and insights from the cycling community to form a strategy for our region.
The Tablelands Region Cycling Strategy 2023-33 will include all forms of cycling — road, mountain bike and off-road trails. The strategy will take into consideration all demographics and capabilities and contribute to increased participation in recreational cycling to support health and wellbeing, economic, tourism and social benefits for our community.
Objectives
- To facilitate the management of community expectations, and provide direction on TRC’s priorities, particularly in relation to the delivery of cycling-related projects.
- To develop a decision-making framework for cycling projects, programs and infrastructure that aligns with TRC’s strategic direction and assists community and businesses in achieving common goals.
- To assist TRC and community organisations to leverage future funding, partnerships and collaboration opportunities for specific cycling priority projects.
- To promote sustainable planning, development and management of assets and infrastructure.
- To develop a strategy and action plan with measures to ensure monitoring and progress reporting.
- To consider principal cycle network (TMR) connectivity to recreational cycling.
Other Opportunities To Comment
Workshops
- Coordination Centre, 15 Vernon Street, Atherton — 6.00–7.00pm Tuesday 11 April
- Patrick English Pavilion, Malanda Showgrounds — 5.30-6.30pm Thursday 13 April
- Ravenshoe Town Hall — 1.00–2.00pm Wednesday 12 April.
Register to attend the workshops.
Pop-Up Sessions
- Northern Bikes, 55 Main Street, Atherton — 10.00am Saturday 15 April
- Herberton 5 Star Handimarket — 1.00pm Friday 14 April
- Millaa Millaa Library — 3.00pm Thursday 13 April
- Mount Garnet Visitor Information Centre — 11.00am Wednesday 12 April
- Tolga CWA — 8.00am Wednesday 12 April
- Yungaburra Visitor Information Centre — 3.30pm Tuesday 11 April
The TRC area covers a large part of the region known as the Atherton Tablelands, just over an hour inland from Cairns. The climate, altitude, outstanding natural beauty and biodiversity mean the region is a popular destination for outdoor recreation experiences. Cycling trails and events continue to grow in popularity with locals and visitors alike.
TRC has received community requests during consultation for the Tablelands 2030+ Community Plan and other community projects for additional recreational cycling routes and improvements to existing trails and cycle networks. Historically new or upgrades to existing infrastructure have been
undertaken on an ad hoc basis.
A contingent of cycling groups has requested the development of a Cycling Strategy for the region that will guide new infrastructure development and renewals, ensure projects are undertaken in a more coordinated and planned manner, and maximise funding opportunities. The outdoor cycle groups that operate within the TRC Local Government Area include, but are not limited to, Audax Australia Far North Queensland, Tableland Cycle Sports (TCS), Sixty and Over
group (SAOs), Tablelands Outdoor Recreation Association (TORA), Spinners Inclusive Sports and Cassowary Coast Multisport Club Inc.
We recognise a strategy will assist not-for-profit groups in applying for funding to progress their own projects. Many have a demonstrated history of developing effective programs, projects and initiatives to support inclusive community health and wellbeing. We seek to understand opportunities to invest in new and upgraded trails by adopting a more strategic and regional approach to cycle network planning, provision, management and promotion.
The strategy will act as an economic driver for a range of sectors of the Tablelands economy, including tourism and retail. There has been a focus from outdoor cycle groups on developing cycle tourism by delivering various Audax, mountain bike and road bike events across the region. This project also holds the potential to work with neighbouring councils to increase connectivity and provide consistency in trail infrastructure across local government boundaries.