Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails

Get on your bike and comment on Eungella local area planning

Community input is being sought for a local area planning framework for Eungella to support the township becoming a trail town as part of the Pioneer Valley Mountain Biking project.

This is stage two of the local area planning project, with the same process already undertaken for Finch Hatton.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the townships of Finch Hatton and Eungella were important cogs in plans for future mountain biking trails at the top of the Pioneer Valley.

He said both had been identified for trailheads for the mountain bike trails.

“It is important that we have the right planning framework in place for these two towns to help capitalise on development opportunities that will arise from the mountain bike project and the visitor numbers it will generate.”

The Eungella local area framework project will start with an online survey, which opens today (April 27) and closes Tuesday, May 25, at 11.59pm.

Mayor Williamson said that survey would provide council with a greater understanding of the opportunities and community aspirations.

“The results will better inform the development of the local area planning framework for Eungella,’’ he said.

Anyone interested will also be able to pin comments and images to an ideas map.

The local area planning process being followed is the same previously undertaken for Finch Hatton.

“We received a good response to that consultation and are expecting a similar interest in planning for Eungella,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

“We’ve also done some direct mailouts to Eungella residents, as well as posters in the township, to help promote the consultation up there,’’ he said.

Click here to learn more about the Eungella local planning area framework project and complete the survey
Feedback closes: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 11.59pm.

Above: Aerial view of Eungella township.

Time is running out to have your say on three proposed Finch Hatton trailhead concepts.

A trailhead is a place where you start and finish your mountain bike adventures which contains facilities that support riders.

The concepts were developed in consultation with valuable input from internationally recognised trail experts, World Trail, as well as key stakeholders involved in the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails project.

The identified location for the trailhead is the old Cattle Creek Sugar Mill site as it provides a strong town linkage utilising existing mango trees as a boulevard.

Proposed facilities include a revamped Cattle Creek Mill Administration Building, platypus-shaped pump track, car park, bike rack, toilets, trail signage and event hosting amenities.

Attractions such as the Kungurri train turntable have also been incorporated in some of the concepts.

View the proposed concepts along with the site constraints to gain a deeper understanding of what is being proposed for the area.

Both Eungella and Finch Hatton will be trail towns and will act as key service hubs for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails.

Feedback closes midnight, April 18.

Click here to see the proposed trailhead site...

Share your thoughts on the Finch Hatton trailhead concepts

The development of a world-class network of mountain bike trails in the Pioneer Valley provides a unique opportunity to grow the tourism economy and deliver a destination product that has extensive economic benefits to Finch Hatton, Eungella and the wider Mackay region.

The proposed Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails will be comprised of a 100km network of single direction mountain bike trails spanning from Eungella to Finch Hatton.

Both Eungella and Finch Hatton will be trail towns and act as key service hubs for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails. The primary trailhead will be located within the Finch Hatton township.

Council has been developing concept designs specifically for the Finch Hatton trailhead site and welcomes your feedback. Proposed facilities include a revamped Cattle Creek Mill administration building, platypus-shaped pump track, car park, bike rack, toilets, trail signage and event hosting amenities.

Click here to to learn more about this exciting project and contribute your thoughts online. Feedback closes Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 11.59pm.

Council invites the Finch Hatton community to contribute to the master planning of the Finch Hatton trailhead.

As a trail town, Finch Hatton will be a key service hub for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails, with a primary trailhead located within the township.

Council has been developing concept designs specifically for the Finch Hatton trailhead site and welcomes your feedback.

Come along to one of two workshops where you can meet the project team and world-class trail designers, World Trail, to discuss ideas for the Finch Hatton trailhead site.

Join us at one of the following workshops:

Thursday, March 18, 2021

Workshop 1: 3pm to 5pm | Workshop 2: 6pm to 8pm
Finch Hatton RSL
Registration link >http://bit.ly/3rqdh6H

ONLINE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Please note, due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions only limited seats are available. A confirmed registration is essential. We encourage only one person per household to register.

Can’t make a workshop? Don’t worry, you can participate online by visiting www.connectingmackay.com.au/mountain-bike-trails from Thursday, March 18 until Sunday, April 18, 2021 at 11.59pm.

Council update sessions delivered

On Sunday, council delivered two community sessions in Finch Hatton and Eungella.

The well-attended sessions provided residents with the opportunity to learn more about the project and have a place to ask questions.

The sessions also included a discussion on the progress of the Finch Hatton Local Area Planning Framework project.

Click here to view the presentation.

Subscribe to project updates emails to learn more about this exciting project. Click the Stay Informed button on the right of this page. You will receive an email afterwards asking you to confirm your subscription.

Get involved and stay up-to-date on the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails project

These sessions will include a discussion on the progress of the Finch Hatton Local Area Planning Framework project.

Join us on Sunday, February 7, 2021
- 10am at Eungella HUB or noon at Finch Hatton Showgrounds

Online registration is required.

Please note, due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions only limited seats are available. A confirmed registration is essential

We encourage only one person per household to register and ask organisations to be mindful of the number of representatives attending

DO NOT attend this meeting if you have:
• fever or symptoms of respiratory infection (cough, sore throat, shortness of breath)
• have returned from overseas in the last 14 days
• been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

Click here to register to the Eungella session.
Click here to register to the Finch Hatton session.

Connecting Mackay for more information about this project.

Developing a local area planning framework for the Finch Hatton township

A local area planning framework is being investigated for the Finch Hatton township, with the intent of facilitating development opportunities to support the potential of Finch Hatton becoming a trail town for the future mountain bike trails.

This project will follow a ‘local area plan’ process involving background and context investigations, setting a vision and principles, the development of local area frameworks and strategies relating to land uses, access, connectivity, infrastructure, built character and the public realm. Following the completion of the local area planning framework (as Stage 1 of the the local area planning project), the focus of the local area planning project will shift towards the Eungella township as Stage 2 of the project.

The potential benefits of this project include:

• unlocking development opportunities that support the mountain bike trails and job creation
• rejuvenation of activity in the commercial heart of the township
• identifying opportunities for public realm enhancements in key locations and movement corridors
• facilitative planning regulations.

Click here to visit the Finch Hatton local area planning framework webpage.
Consultation closes Sunday, November 29, 2020 at 11:59pm.

Mountain Bike Trail Community Update

Council presented Community Update sessions to Eungella and Finch Hatton residents on August 20, 2020.

Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, attendance was limited. To ensure all community members have access to the information provided during the update, you can click here to view the presentation.

Click here to view the proposed trail network map which was presented to attendees.

The proposed trail network offers 100km plus of concept trail alignments, covering a broad range of trail experiences suitable for all rider abilities. It is important to note that the proposal is based on desktop studies only. Depending on stakeholder approvals, the final trail network will be confirmed during the detailed trail design phase. This will be in accordance with requirements identified in the ecological and cultural heritage assessments.

The next steps are:

• Seek approvals from related stakeholders and government agencies
• Local area planning
• Development of Finch Hatton trail head master plan
• Engage local community and tourism interests
• Secure funding
• Detailed trail design

To stay informed about this project and to be notified of upcoming community engagement sessions, subscribe to this project's update emails. Click the Stay Informed button on the right of this page. You will receive an email afterwards asking you to confirm your subscription.

Pioneer Valley presents great development potential

In 2018, Mackay Regional Council engaged consultants Otium Planning and World Trail to investigate how the Mackay region’s mountain bike industry could be better enhanced, promoted and managed. The key finding was the Pioneer Valley presents great development potential for a nationally and internationally recognised mountain bike park.

Council endorsed further work to explore the feasibility and economic impact of the trail development around Eungella and Finch Hatton.

Mackay Regional Council has been briefed about the outcomes of the Feasibility Study on May 20, 2020. Council is supportive of progressing this project further.

The next steps will involve:

• negotiations with Native Title claimants, land owners and stakeholders and government agencies to seek approvals for the proposed trail network
• ground truthing
• ecological and cultural heritage assessment
• secure funding
• detailed design

Mountain bike park project pedals forward

An investigation into the feasibility of a mountain bike park in the Pioneer Valley has revealed a wealth of opportunities.

The business case and feasibility study, prepared by Otium Planning Group World Trail, considers the trail network concept, construction/maintenance costs and economic benefits.

They also undertook consultation with targeted stakeholders to address any ideas, issues or concerns with the Eungella-Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Park project.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the investigation presented some exciting opportunities for the region.

“The business case estimates that the mountain bike park will attract more than 22,000 riders annually,” he said.

“This will include about 19,000 non-resident visitors by its fourth year of operation.

“It is also expected to generate 28 full-time equivalent jobs during construction and would support 28 new jobs in its first year of operation, increasing to 67 jobs by year 10.”

Mayor Williamson said the Eungella-Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Park would deliver 100km of national-international standard mountain bike track across 11 individual trails as proposed by the business case.

“The trail network will span from Eungella to Finch Hatton,” he said.

“Most of the trail network will be located within National Park and State Forest, however four parcels of freehold land will need to be purchased to facilitate the trail network concept and infrastructure.”

Council will now begin negotiations with landowners regarding freehold land purchase and commence work on a detailed design for the mountain bike park.

A Regional Mountain Bike Alliance will also be established to act as the key reference and coordination group to support the delivery of the mountain bike strategy and its specific actions.

The total capital cost of the mountain bike park is estimated between $10.7 and $12.6 million.