Gold Coast mountain biker to build Nerang Mountain Bike Trails

An industry-leading Australian company and a Gold Coast champion athlete are teaming up to deliver the Nerang Mountain Bike Trails which will be an official competition venue for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchliffe announced construction would start this week on the new 4.5 kilometre mountain bike trail in the Nerang National Park.

"Dirt Art has employed one of Australia’s most successful mountain bike racers, Gold Coast track builder Nathan Rennie, to complete this fantastic project," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"This partnership will produce a cross country Olympic mountain bike course that, combined with upgrades to the cycle centre, will deliver yet another world-class venue for the Games.

"Once completed at the end of this year, the new trails will be the first international standard mountain bike trails in South-East Queensland.

"The $3.2 million project is being delivered in two stages and Dirt Art have come on board to construct the trails, while building on the first stage of refurbishment works was undertaken at the Gold Coast Cycle Centre earlier this year."

Mr Hinchliffe said the team would build the mountain bike trail to meet Union Cycliste Internationale requirements and international competition standards.

"Dirt Art has delivered more than 2000 kilometres of trails for a wide variety of projects throughout Australia and around the world, and Nathan is also a highly experienced project manager and trail builder," he said.

"Nathan, who lives on the Gold Coast, is a past world champion and world cup overall winner, who raced in international competition for more than 10 years.

"Wherever possible, the Palaszczuk Government has made it a priority to ensure local businesses and local workers benefit from the $320 million venue construction program and this project has created 10 full-time equivalent positions."

Mr Hinchliffe said Toowoomba-based company, FKG Group, had completed upgrades to the Gold Coast Cycle Centre in July to provide improved facilities for competitors and spectators, and ensure the venue is accessible to people with disabilities.

"The Mountain Biking competition for the Games will start and finish from the newly upgraded cycle centre at Nerang, which included upgrades to the clubhouse, improvements to car parking facilities and visitor access, a new amenities block and a new spectator viewing platform that overlooks the existing outdoor velodrome and the criterium track,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

"The Gold Coast Cycle Centre upgrade project is another example of local expertise coming to the fore with more than 100 workers playing a role in delivering a great venue.

"The centre will provide the best possible Commonwealth Games experience for athletes and spectators alike, in addition to benefitting the community long before and after the Games."

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles said it was great to see Nerang National Park claim such a central role in the increasingly popular international sport of mountain biking.

"Our existing fire management trails in the Nerang National Park already provide for a range of recreational opportunities," Dr Miles said.

"These trails are regularly used by walkers, runners and horse riders and as a host location for nature-based events, including the annual Kokoda Challenge."

Federal Minister for Sport Sussan Ley said the Australian Government was proud to fund world class sporting facilities for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

"The Australian Government keenly supports sporting infrastructure projects to allow Australians to get active more often, and the Nerang Mountain Biking Trails affords the community this opportunity," Minister Ley said.

"Mountain biking is a popular sport and these new trails will attract mountain bike enthusiasts from around the region.

"Like with many of the new Commonwealth Games sites, it is great to see an Australian business appointed to the design and construction of the Nerang Mountain Bike Trails."

City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the announcement of the team that would deliver another world-class sporting venue for the Gold Coast.

"The Gold Coast is internationally recognised as a premier sporting destination and the new trails will help attract athletes from all over the world," Mayor Tate said.

"There is a growing mountain-biking community on the Gold Coast and the Games will provide an opportunity for them to witness a unique sporting experience."

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will run from 4 - 15 April 2018.

For more information on the Games visit www.gc2018.com.

Media contact: Jessica Hill 0475 950 772