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TAMWORTH Mountain Bike Park on Forest Road was modelled on the “awesome” Multi-Code Bike Park in Canberra, and, when completed, will be high on the list of the best facilities in the country – all within two kilometres of the city’s CBD.
That’s the prediction of Steve Mair, president of Tamworth Mountain Bike Club which will host this weekend’s Stan’s NoTubes Tamworth 5hr – the sixth race in the seven-race $80,000 Evocities MTC Series.
“We did the 2008 Canberra 24-Hour at Mt Stromlo,” Mair said.
“It’s a world class multi-use recreational sporting facility with a criterium circuit, grass cross-country tracks and mountain bike tracks to suit all levels of riders, and boasts being the biggest in the world.
“We saw the blending of all ages being active, day and night.
“There was so much in one place, it was awesome, so we basically came home and identified an area of land here for something similar.”
By 2010 the club had obtained the necessary licence to develop the trail then four years later were able to get the basic track infrastructure up and going.
The current task is completion of the 60m concrete path for bicycles.
The mountain bike track is already in place and, within the next 15 months, visitors will see the addition of a skills park which will cater for the toddler right through to the teenager developing their mountain bike skills.
Another feature will be the blue, green and black tracks designed for riders of all levels to work on their skills –basically from grass roots level, Mair said.
Another big tourist attraction will be the three-kilometre walking trail.
“This track will follow the path of indigenous history of the site but will also double as a cross-country running trail to be used by schools or the staging of biathlons (mountain bike and running).
“It’s a big thing for Tamworth,” he said.
“We’ll have our own active adventure-based reserve, with wildlife, picnic area, and it will all be made possible by a recent grant of $160,000 from the state government.
“Tamworth is pushing ahead with the green and healthy lifestyle aspect, which is proving a big thing in attracting professionals to the city, something we desperately need – people like health professionals, teachers and engineers.
“I have friends who visit regularly and their first port of call is the mountain bike track.”