Shire funds grand plan for cycle tourism

THE Surf Coast Shire has jumped on board a plan to use cycling tourism to inject millions into the economy and create hundreds of jobs in the region At their meeting earlier this month, councillors endorsed the Growing Adventure Tourism in Barwon South West Region strategy, and also allocated $100,000 towards priority works on The strategy lists seven trails and mountain bike hubs in the region which are or could be developed to be “internationally and nationally Forrest mountain bike trails, and the Great Ocean Walk near Apollo Bay.

It proposes $40 million regional investment to drive a 10 per cent increase in visitor numbers, $24 million per year in direct visitor spend 10 years.

Locally, the shire’s contributions will support a concept plan and capital works for an alternative cycling route between Point Impossible and Fairhaven, an investigation into an off-road dual-use link from Breamlea to Point Impossible and an on-road cycle link from Breamlea to Torquay, and a feasibility study for stage two of the Surf Coast Walk from Fairhaven to the Cumberland River.

Cr Margot Smith said the strategy – which is one of the council’s four peak advocacy projects at tapping into the growing desire for adventure tourism.

“People don’t want to go away and lie on a The council motion also resolved to advocate to the state government to secure the future of the Anglesea Bike Park, which presently sits on Alcoa-owned freehold land, by obtaining the land and assuming responsibility for the park’s management. Cr Smith said the state government needed to ensure the bike park stayed in the community.

Cr Clive Goldsworthy said the work already done by the shire could eventually tie into a Australian border.