Media release - $500 k to be spent!!!
Note the reference to difficult and very difficult trails
http://www.trc.qld.gov.au/news/mountain-bike-trail-wins-500000-fed
Mountain bike trail wins $500,000 in Federal funding
A MASSIVE expansion of the Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park will go ahead following Federal approval of a $500,000 grant.
"News that the Regional Development Australia Fund has approved Tablelands Regional Council's application for that funding is wonderful to hear," Mayor Rosa Lee Long said.
"This facility has already hosted a national mountain bike marathon championship and won rave reviews, even though it is still not officially open.
"And now this grant will see another 32.45 kilometres of trails added to the complex and also fund signage and supporting marketing materials such as maps and trail information.
"When you look at this in conjunction with the very clear push to bring to entire Tablelands to the forefront as an adventure sports destination and also complimentary projects around the region, we are maturing very quickly indeed."
Councillor Lee Long said that TRC had auspiced the application.
"This has been a truly successful collaboration between Council, Tableland Futures Corporation, Tableland Integrated Mountain Bike Alliance, Tableland Outdoor Recreation Association and the Queensland Government's Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing," Cr Lee Long said.
"I want to recognise the outstanding contribution of the volunteer members of our community organisations TFC, TORA and TiMBA as, without their driving force we may not have achieved so much.
"To get the Park to its present stage TRC has contributed $75,000 and NPRSR $200,000. It has already hosted a national-level event and this will, I believe, take this facility to world-class level.
"And with world mountain bike events coming to the region next year and in 2016, I think the Tablelands will stand out as a premier destination."
The extension will include new trails rated as "more difficult" and "very difficult" along with a linking trail connecting the facility with the Atherton Visitors' Information Centre in the town's CBD.
"Construction is hoped to start in January 2014 and I am sure this project will continue to highlight both how productive collaboration can be, and how great this area is as a mountain-biking destination," Mayor Lee Long said.