The missing links in the kunanyi/Mount Wellington mountain bike trail network could soon be in place, allowing people to ride a loop around the foothill tracks.
As part of the first stage of the $775,000 foothills project, the City of Hobart is proposing to:
- build a new intermediate grade track between Bracken Lane Fire Trail down to the Middle Island Fire Trail
- build an intermediate grade track between Middle Island and the Hobart Rivulet
- formalise the black diamond rated Drops Track.
The Tasmanian Government has contributed half of the funding for the project from its $6 million cycling tourism pool, and some of the new track sections will be on Cascade land owned by Carlton and United Breweries.
Once the next sections are built, riders will be able to ride a 12km “foothills loop” utilising tracks and fire trails, avoiding the need to ride on roads and shuttle between tracks.
The City chose to improve the connectivity in its network after investigations last year found that building a downhill gravity track would cost more than $2 million and only be suitable for very experienced riders.
The City is currently carrying out consultation with mountain bikers on the first stage of the project, specifically asking:
- How can the downill Drops Track be formalised without losing its integrity? Sometimes, when governments formalise a track they can take out some of the most interesting features because of public safety. The City is keen to hear how you think the Drops Track can keep a single black diamond rating, or change to a double black diamond rating, while being brought to an acceptable standard for public riding.
- What features should the new unnamed intermediate grade track include?
As well as asking about the standard of tracks, the City is also wanting to know what riders think about shared use. It is proposing the Drops Track be bicycles only, the Rivulet Crossing Track be shared use, and is open to feedback for the dual-way unnamed track.
The second stage of the foothills project will explore the feasibility of a new track between Junction Cabin and the Main Fire Trail, called the Junction Climber.
If you want to contribute to the City’s consultation on the first stage, head to the Your Say Hobart page.
There will also be a "listening post" and walk along the Drops Track on Saturday 23 June. Go to the junction of Bracken Lane and O’Grady’s Falls Fire Trail in Fern Tree to talk to project officers from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. Then at 1pm project officers will conduct a walk along the Drops Track.
