The Liberal Government is committed to promoting a healthy Tasmania.
Today's opening of the Hollybank Mountain Bike Park project at the Hollybank Forest Reserve is an exciting opportunity for bike riders.
The project has been managed by Northern Tasmania Development with Launceston City Council and Forestry Tasmania providing in-kind support.
The project has involved the construction of approximately 20 kilometres of world-class mountain bike trails, to suit a range of experience levels, within the spectacular Hollybank Forest Reserve, less than 30 minutes drive from the Launceston CBD.
Northern Tasmania has a vibrant mountain biking community and I am thrilled that this track will both service locals as well as help attract tourists to the region
The growth and popularity of mountain biking has presented Tasmania with opportunities to encourage healthy active lifestyles whilst also building on Tasmania's profile as an outstanding nature-based and adventure tourism destination.
An independent Market Demand and Economic Assessment of the broader North East Mountain Bike Project indicates the collective projects will provide up 100 FTE jobs; $15 million to $17 million of additional expenditure in Tasmania per annum; and 16 000 to 21 000 visitors to the region per annum to experience the trails.
The trail construction has been undertaken by Tasmanian firm Dirt Art, who have provided many job and training opportunities for local Tasmanians throughout the construction project.
Representatives of a number of the major mountain biking publications have had tours of the site in the past few weeks, with initial feedback indicating they believe this to be a world-class trail that will set the region up for a mountain biking boom.
There is genuine enthusiasm within the mountain biking community about this and other projects in the North East of Tasmania and it is fabulous that these kinds of projects not only encourage this popular sport but also showcase our spectacular scenery
The Hollybank Mountain Bike Park is part of a broader project to develop three iconic mountain biking trail centres in the State's North East. The other two trail networks at Cascade Forest (Derby) and the Blue Tier (Welborough) are currently under construction.
It is the Liberal Government's target to ensure Tasmania has the healthiest population in Australia by 2025.