Newsroom

Go wild over more Mersey MTB while Hobart plans

Some 16 km of green-rated mountain bike trails opened last weekend in Railton, with a big crowd of bike riders attending to welcome the new stage of the Wild Mersey network.

Stage 2 of Wild Mersey includes a pump track at Railton, new tracks in Goliath Park and a linking track between the Warrawee Reserve and Railton trailheads.

The linking track was not open on the day due to heavy rains in the lead-up to the launch but is now operating.

The new tracks include:
- Railton Express - 9.75 km - This shared path runs alongside the Mersey River, around plantations and includes switchbacks to get over the hilly areas.
- Green Hornet - 2 km - downhill single track featuring berms and rollers.
- Teleport - 3 km - single track climb that gets you to start of Green Hornet
- Sheffield Way - 1 km - two-way track that is the start of the link to Sheffield.

The opening of stage 2 means Wild Mersey now has over 25 km of green-rated tracks open for people wanting to get a taste for mountain-bike riding.

The third stage of the network, which is due to start in the coming months, will add to the existing 7 km of blue and black rated tracks already available.

These tracks will be built in Badgers Range and will include a connection to the Sheffield township.

When finished, the Wild Mersey network seeks to have around 100 km of tracks and linking trails between the hubs of Railton, Latrobe and Sheffield.

The project is being funded by Kentish and Latrobe councils and state and federal governments.

Launch of Wild Mersey Stage 2 on Saturday 15 June, 2019.

Dirt Art plans new Hobart tracks

The City of Hobart has engaged Dirt Art to create a mountain bike plan to improve the track network in the lower foothills of kunanyi/Mount Wellington.

The network includes areas between Fern Tree and the boundary with Glenorchy City Council, as well as the North-South Track down to key linkages between South Hobart, Knocklofty Reserve and Lenah Valley.

The plan will take in the needs of local and visiting riders and will respond to the 448 survey responses recently received by the City.

The City has formed an advisory group of ten local riders to guide development of the plan, which should be ready in October for public comment.