Mountain bike trails given council nod

Albany is one step closer to becoming a renowned mountain bike destination after approval of the Albany Heritage Park Trails Concept Plan.

The City of Albany council voted 11-2 for the plan last Tuesday, which will move the project into the detailed design phase of the 38km trail experience in the Albany Heritage Park.

The plan includes 20.2km of dual-use trails, 13.2km of mountain bike trails, and 5.5km of walking trails.

Albany Mountain Bike Club president Chris Idle said the project was a significant first step in developing a trails tourism market for Albany.

“With just 750m of trail, mountain bikes are poorly serviced in Albany,” he said.

“With few dedicated walking trails on the Mounts and riders being forced onto unsuitable trails, walkers are also being poorly serviced.

“The AMBC’s position is not that the Mounts should be used exclusively for mountain bikes but that the trails are designed and constructed in a way that many user types get to appreciate this environment, and that trails are built to a more appropriate and sustainable standard.”

Councillors Janelle Price and Ray Hammond voted against the motion citing environmental issues — issues which were also raised during public question time — including erosion, risk concerns, and possible injuries.