CURRENT SAMBA PROJECTS...

The State Mountain Bike Plan for South Australia: Mount Lofty Ranges Region 2001-2005 was released in October 2001. This plan was developed by a range of stakeholders, including State Government, Local Government, community organisations, clubs, and individuals.

The plan listed Objectives and Strategies by which it could achieve "the development of integrated and sustainable mountain bike riding opportunities within the State". The strategies were linked to a series of actions, each of which had clearly defined lead and support agencies, and targets with timelines. The plan further listed a range of projects to be undertaken within the life of the plan, again with nominated lead and support agencies, and including resources required for implementation of each project.

It is now over ten years since the plan was adopted (and six since its expiry), and as yet no review of the success of the plan has been undertaken. The South Australian Mountain Bike Association (SAMBA) proposes to review the plan against its stated Targets and Projects. SAMBA will engage with all agencies involved in the plan to review its implementation. It is anticipated that this review will be undertaken over the first three months of the lifetime of the grant. The results of this review will feed into and will set the background methodology for the intended update that will be the State Mountain Bike Plan 2013-2017.

SAMBA is grateful to funding support from the Office for Recreation and Sport.

Would you like to know more about this project?
 Download the State Mountain Bike Plan 2013-2017 Project Brief here.

This project focuses on four key elements: the development of a trail master plan for Cudlee Creek Forest; the extension of the existing XC trail network with the planning and construction of new sustainable multi use trails in the forest; the upgrade of the existing XC trails with improved trail marking; and the mapping of the existing and new trails network (those developed in this project). The existing trail network was planned and constructed in the early 2000's to form the Mawson Networks Trails. The extension of this network acts as a continuation of work identified in the State Mountain Bike Plan (2001).

Over the last three years trail planning has focused on improvements to the downhill trail network. The Trail Master Plan will guide long term trail development in the Forest, with a focus on the extension of the XC network, as identified in the State Mountain Bike Plan (2001). This Master Plan will ensure that ongoing trail development in the forest meets the needs of stakeholders (including users) and is sustainable on all levels: social, environmental and economic.

Once the Master Plan is completed, this project would see the commencement of the next stage of trail development, including a focus on the development of beginner (Green Circle) level singletrack trail. This will ensure there is a suitable opportunity for progression within the park, which is currently lacking to some extent. Involvement in the long term planning of trail development is vital to ensure community buy-in to the project and the Forest's trail care going forward.

This project will see the South Australian Mountain Biking Association partner with ForestrySA to develop and implement this project activity. The International Mountain Bike Associaition - Australia, who are supportive of this project, will also have some involvement in the project planning and consultation. Funding for this project has been received from the Office for Recreation and Sport.