Things are looking good for mountain biking on the West Coast with the Liberal National's Senator, Steve Martin, promising $2.5 million to fund the west coast's entire mountain biking strategy and Labor's Justine Keay announcing a $1.2 million funding commitment to develop the Mount Owen trails.
At their December 2018 meeting, the West Coast Council have decided not to proceed with the proposed gravity trails in Queenstown (the final stage of the West Coast Mountain Bike Project started in 2014 as a job creation program following the closure of the Mt Lyell mine) and instead seek new proposals and funding to try and construct a product that will attract riders to the West Coast.
The Snug to Margate cycleway was officially opened on 12 December 2018.
The Tasmanian Government has now reviewed the two competing proposals for the North East Railway line and decided to give both parties part of the line to develop. The full media release from Treasurer Peter Guttwein is below.
The Warrawee section of the Wild Mersey Mountain Bike Trails were officially opened on 13 December 2018, just in time for the busy summer period.
The Tasmanian Government have released their next 365 priority deliverables and, although thin on the ground, mountain biking and cycling do get mentions with the commencement of stage 2 of the Dial Range project, an extension of the Strahan Cycleway to Ocean Beach and better funding for Ride2School and cycle safety initiatives included.
The Wellington Park Management Trust has finalised the Wellington Park Track Users Code.
The Wild Mersey Mountain Bike project will receive $800,000 from the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Jobs and Investment Packages program.
Ten new projects have been approved for funding under the Tasmaniian Cycle Tourism Strategy's $6m cycle tourism fund.
Public comment is being sought on the Draft Meehan Range Nature Recreation Area (Redgate Section) Management Statement 2017 by 8 January 2018.
The proportion of visitors to Tasmania undertaking some form of mountain biking activity has remained fairly flat at 21,115 visitors, or 1.6% of total visitors, for the October 2016 to September 2017 period.
A plan to upgrade the Penguin Mountain Bike Park has secured the backing of Central Coast Council.
Launceston Mountain Bike Club has provided the following useful summary of updates about what's happening with the trails in and around Launceston in their September 2017 Newsletter.
New passing laws in Tasmania mean motorists must be at least one metre from a cyclist when passing on roads with a speed limit of up to 60 km/h, and one-and-a-half metres on roads over 60 km/h.
The Tasmanian Government has released it's Tasmanian Cycle Tourism Strategy to guide the development of Tasmania’s cycling tracks and trails, grow and promote experiences and events, and improve safety for all cyclists.
The Minister for Environment and Parks, Matthew Groom, announced that Dirt Art will be beginning construction of the Maydena Bike Park this week. The full media release is below.
After an 18 month trial, the Wellington Park Management Trust has resolved to keep the Pillinger Drive Track between Fern Tree Park and Pillinger Drive as shared use for cycling and walking.
Some illegally cut/built MTB tracks that run off the Water Fire Trail in Wellington Park for a distance north of approximately 300 metres, finishing in Tolosa Park will shortly be closed off/rehabilitated.
The TICT have launched Australia's first Bike Friendly Business community in partnership with the Tasmanian Government, the Tasmanian cycling community, and Tourism Northern Tasmania.