Narrandera could potentially become the centre in the Riverina for cycling enthusiasts with a $600,000 Rocky Waterholes Mountain Bike Park mooted.

The idea was conceived by the Mountain Bike Trail Narrandera Group whose members want to see the informal trails in the Rocky Waterholes hill transformed into a formal mountain bike trail.

The park could potentially offer 15km of open trails suitable for beginner and experienced riders, with the group flagging they will be seeking $600,000 in funding to get it off the ground.

Mountain Bike Trail Narrandera Group met with Narrandera Shire Council to explore the project and have successfully sought Council funding of $5000 for a specialist trail consultant to assess and report on the draft proposal and establish appropriate signage to promote the area.

The group has sourced plans of existing rough trails in the area and has researched many aspects of the proposal at their own expense.

The project was developed by Martin Asmus, Bill Hutchins, Simon Absolom and Dwayne Mathews.

Mr Asmus said the bike group was not a formal entity but had a strong and enthusiastic volunteer base.

The trail network had been mapped and assessed with over 20km of unsanctioned mountain bike, walking and fire trails catering for beginner, intermediate and advanced skill levels.

Mr Asmus said the project aimed to build tourism in Narrandera by giving the park a point of difference and not replicate trail parks at Wagga Wagga and Tumbarumba.

He said participation in the sport had taken off during COVID-19, with a Tasmanian gravity park turning over $30 million in revenue.

“Making Narrandera different comes down to the types of tracks with technical aspects and a good mix of beginner to advanced,” he said.

“Professional companies build the tracks to account for terrain, geology, surface run-off and work with the club to have a minimal impact on the environment.

“There is no maintenance done in the area at the moment as they are unsanctioned tracks but with Council support, we want to tap into a good groundswell of support from the community.”

Mr Asmus said mountain biking has a participation rate nationally of 341,000, and generates $630 million with riders spending on average $2289 or $27.10 per ride.

“It’s already in the plan of management for that area – we are not throwing anything at Council they don’t know about but it didn’t have a mobilised mountain bike group to push it,” he said.

“The plan of management is being updated and we would like it to include the idea of a mountain bike park, and we will run with it.

“Based on other parks, the project is valued at around $600,000, including contractors and in-kind.”

All the tracks are now mapped and on the Trailforks app, with ratings for degree of difficulty.

Economic development manager Toneale O’Connell told council the benefits of developing such trails were environmental, social, physical and economic, with significant spending by thousands of visitors per year as participants and supporters.

“The development of Rocky Waterholes Mountain Bike Park will provide another complementary dimension to the Playground on the Murrumbidgee and will create a valuable attraction for Narrandera generating multiple benefits,” Ms O’Connell said.

Cr Narelle Payne said the Mountain Bike Trail Narrandera Group had a strong case and clearly showed the advantages as a tourism aspect for the shire.

“If it goes ahead in the way they envisage it will certainly be a major attraction for the shire,” Cr Payne said.

Cr Jenny Clarke described the concept as “exciting” and backed the project.

Mayor Neville Kschenka told councillors the trail had great potential to bring visitors.

“I do have concerns this particular track might attract motorbike riders so I would like to include in this (report) to address any potential problem,” Cr Kschenka said.

“Other things will be addressed such as Aboriginal culture, and protection of native flora and fauna.”

Cr Barbara Bryon said the trail would not just benefit bike riders but also joggers and walkers.

“It really is a win-win on all fronts,” she said.

This article appeared in the Narrandera Argus, 20 May 2021.