The government’s wheels seem to be spinning on promised upgrades to Stromlo Forest Park, the ACT’s only purpose-built mountain bike park, Greens backbencher Jo Clay MLA fears.
In Budget Estimates last week, the ACT Government explained that promised improvements to Stromlo Forest Park had been delayed because of competing infrastructure priorities, Ms Clay said.
Two years ago, ACT Labor made an election promise that Canberra would have a mountain biking trail from Stromlo Forest Park to Cotter Recreation Area. The 13 to 15 km ‘flow’ style trail, to which Labor said it would commit $1.2 million, would create a link between the two popular recreation hubs.
In Labor’s Parliamentary and Governing Agreement with the Greens, the new government promised that it would make Stromlo Forest Park “a premier mountain biking destination” by finishing the Stromlo Park Masterplan 2016; implementing recommendations from the Canberra Mountain Bike Report 2021 to maintain Stromlo’s status as the ACT’s premier mountain bike destination; and building the flow trail from Stromlo Forest Park to Cotter.
Ms Clay has called for more community consultation at Stromlo Forest Park and a clear plan for investment into mountain biking infrastructure across the ACT.
Neither investment in existing facilities to keep them up to date nor investment in new trails had occurred, she stated.
Ms Clay wants the government to make a firm commitment to deliver the 2021 Report’s recommendations, and a timeframe to deliver the Stromlo to Cotter mountain bike trail. She also wants the government to provide funding for additional upgrades to the trails in Stromlo, in line with Labor’s commitments made during the 2020 election and included in the Parliamentary and Governing Agreement.
“The ACT Greens have long championed mountain biking in the ACT and, with the right investment, believe we could be at the forefront of this exciting tourism and sporting industry,” she said.
“However, Canberra is being left behind as a premier mountain biking destination.”
A spokesperson for Chris Steel, ACT Minister for Transport and City Services, said that work was underway to build the Stromlo to Cotter mountain biking trail this term.
“The ACT Government recognises the social, economic, and well-being benefits of providing high quality and modern mountain biking facilities to the Canberra community and broader region.”
The government was also engaged with stakeholders about the Canberra Mountain Bike Report.
“The repairs and maintenance of existing mountain biking tracks and trails remains a priority,” Mr Steel’s office said. Many had been damaged by higher levels of use and high rainfall. Updates will be made available on the best of Canberra mountain bike experience YourSay webpage.
Car park
The ACT Government had also committed to upgrade the Stromlo Forest Park carpark and improve user safety.
But some cyclists have criticised the design, and claim they were not consulted.
The upgraded carpark will have 500 formal carparking spaces (a 10 per cent increase to standard carpark space size); spaces for trailers and long vehicles; disability parking spaces (currently, there are none); short stay drop-off car spaces; and dedicated bus and coach drop-off and new turning areas.
The Village Green, an event camping and events hub, will provide a central community space that can be used for larger events. It will include a flexible space for marquees and pop-up food vans with water and power outlets. It will give access to the main mountain bike trailhead, while fence gates will enable visitors to easily access Handlebar Café and the carpark.
But Alan Vogt, co-ordinator of the Kowalski Brothers, a volunteer trail building group, and a mountain bike event organiser, considers the proposed design ill-conceived.
“It will push park users considerably further from amenities, and will dislocate the trail head,” he said.
“If Stromlo Forest Park had actually consulted with regular park users, they would know the single most important issue to address is the chronic underfunding of trail maintenance and lack of new trail infrastructure.
“The push for a surfaced carpark is purely about revenue, as the existing carpark works very well, and is as safe as every dirt cark park at every other trailhead in Australia.
“The frustrating thing for me is that for the same budget, you could deliver a Derby-level amount of trail infrastructure, and re-position Canberra as a pre-eminent destination for tourism.”
Mr Vogt claimed the government had not consulted casual or regular park users, or canvassed the opinions of members of mountain bike clubs, on the plan or the broader master plan.
“The result is poor,” he said.
“While the almost $3 million commitment for upgrades at Stromlo is welcome,” Ms Clay said, “there needs to be further consultation with regular park users, neighbours, and the broader community on the proposed carpark and event spaces.”
Mr Steel’s office said the government had sought feedback on the designs of the carpark through social media and the Stromlo Forest Park website since last month.
The government had also consulted stakeholders and users of the park on the upgraded carpark, including the ACT Equestrian Association, AusCycling, Canberra Off Road Cycling, the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, Pedal Power, Stromlo Leisure Centre operators YMCA, Triathlon ACT, We Ride, the YMCA Canberra Running Club, the Weston Creek Community Council, and the Molonglo Valley Community Forum.
