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So how much could Mountain Biking be worth to Australia?


Yarg's picture

By Yarg - Posted on 18 January 2012

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

Just caught this about my home town . . . .

Thought I would share

And wonder . . . . . how much could the sport be worth here?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/advertising/news/artic...

The economic value of mountainbiking in Rotorua's Whakarewarewa Forest has been estimated at five times its annual timber revenue and looks set to increase as promotions raise awareness of what is on offer.

[Mod. moved to Australia as it's a lesson for the whole country!]

Rob's picture

Great find - thanks for sharing!

wal's picture

Nice find.
Ill be sharing that article.

jht013's picture

I'm not surprised having seen the DVD they talk about, the trails look amazing.

Rob's picture
philberesford's picture

How much the logging at places like Majura and Sparrow brings in to the local economy vs MTB inward investment? Just saying…

Great article BTW.

MPN's picture

Yarg, great find.

There are many people within Australia and especially within WA trying very hard to get the minister's to listen, progress is a slow and sometimes frustrating process, but at some point someone will make a change within local, State and Federal government.

In the UK it took years of hard effort to get local and national trails, now there are so many the choice is amazing

It will happen, there will be change.

MPN

Ray R's picture

Thanks for that info Ian - I'll be sending the link off to Western Sydney Parklands to assist in our efforts to develop MTB trails there.

Ray Rice
XC VP WSMTB

Jaredp's picture

Nice article...... I must admit when I first saw the forum topic, my first reaction to the was:

Not much, look at the size of your local Bunnings or BCF and the government still don't care about their financial woes.

It is a bit cynical. But it does seem as though, if you dont grow it, harvest it or dig it up the state and federal governments refuse to acknowledge it.

Rant over.

DudeistPriest's picture

We have some good projects on the go at present, look at Buller for instance and Canberra seems to be getting better all the time too, however, I think at lot of riders would agree there is so much more that could be done. I guess we just have to keep plugging away at it, you have to wonder how many dying towns around Australia could get back on track if they embraced Mountain Biking?

Good luck to those trying to motivate our politicians, what hard task that is?

bikemad's picture

I agree with this,i visited the lovelly little town ofForrest in the Otway ranges about 3 years back.The lady that runs/owns? the caravan park admitted readily that bike riders made up the larger part of her guests ,and consequently was very helpful with maps etc even though she didnt ride herself. The pub over the road also was most pleased with our presence(although that might be me consuming a snappy dozen! Eye-wink they were eager to chat to us about how we enjoyed the ride,first time here etc ....but the point is that town does very well out of mountain bike tourism. Im sure there would doubtless be hundreds more towns scattered around that could thrive given that some local trails and infrastructure was implemented.

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