Jo Clay MLA, ACT Greens spokesperson for Parks and Conservation and Active Travel, will call in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday for the ACT Government to deliver on commitments for mountain biking. She also seeks further consultation at Stromlo, and a single contact point for mountain biking within the ACT Government. 

“Mountain biking is a rapidly growing sport,” said Ms Clay. “It’s good for mental and physical health, it’s great fun, and it’s a wonderful way to appreciate the outdoors.  

“Canberra could be Australia’s premier mountain biking destination. We have an excellent start with Stromlo, but we are falling behind other mountain biking locations. We need more investment to realise our potential.”

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.

Last month, Ms Clay said she was concerned the government’s promised upgrades to Stromlo Forest Park, the ACT’s only purpose-built mountain bike park, were slow to arrive. In Budget Estimates, the ACT Government told Ms Clay that competing infrastructure priorities delayed promised improvements to Stromlo Forest Park, she stated.

• Calls for clear investment plan for Stromlo Forest Park (9^th September)

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.

The ACT Greens also promised to spend $700,000 to implement recommendations from the Canberra Mountain Bike Report 2021 to maintain Stromlo’s status as the ACT’s premier mountain bike destination, including new and existing trails.

The ACT Government built a new cycle track at Stromlo Forest Park, a 500-metre extension connecting the Criterium cycling track to the Stromlo Leisure Centre so cyclists do not have to compete with motor vehicles.

• New cycle track at Stromlo Forest Park improves safety (23^rd June)

Ms Clay will also call for a single point of contact within the ACT for mountain biking.

“Mountain bikers have told me it’s hard to talk to government about their sport because it falls under so many different ministers and portfolios,” she said.

“We also need to see more consultation with mountain bikers and regular Stromlo Forest Park users on improvements to the park. The people using this space have great ideas for the future, and it’s important we hear from them directly.”