AusLeisure

Mountain bikers, walkers and nature enthusiasts have welcomed the Sunshine Coast Council’s final Master Plan for the Caloundra Town Reserve.

The reserve consists of approximately 49 hectares of bushland and caters for informal recreational, social, cultural and leisure activities for the community.

Part of the site was previously a quarry with the remainder a natural reserve currently used for nature-based pursuits and mountain biking.

Developed in consultation with the community and representing an important step towards delivering improved management and access to the area, Sunshine Coast Councillor Tim Dwyer explained that the “Council obtained the trusteeship of the land from State Government in 2015 (and) prior to this transfer, the reserve received limited attention from the State Government.

“Following the land transfer, council resolved to work in partnership with the community and invest in developing and enhancing the recreational and environmental values of the reserve.

“The purpose of this concept plan was to determine how to preserve existing mountain bike activities whilst also meeting the needs of other recreation and leisure pursuits.”

“This area was identified in the Environment and Liveability Strategy Open Space Network as a Sunshine Coast-wide Recreation Park and makes a significant contribution to the Caloundra Open Space Network.”

President of Caloundra Off Road Cycling Association Inc (CORCA) Stephen Ossedryver said the group was pleased with the formulation of a master plan for the area.

Ossedryver advised “as mountain biking is the fastest growing recreational sport in Australia, improvements to this already popular mountain bike trails network will benefit a large number of users within the community.

“CORCA, through its large volunteer base, is committed to and pleased to continue the strong partnership with the Sunshine Coast Council for the further development of this community mountain biking asset.”

Julia Lendvai from the riding group Women on Wheels welcomed Council’s adoption of the master plan and said the asset would serve to be a tourism drawcard for the region into the future, adding “there really is something for everyone from beginners to experienced riders at Caloundra.

“Our group has put a lot of voluntary work into this area so it’s great to have those efforts recognised.

“It’s such a great facility I have no doubt it will drive tourism to the local area.”

Councillor Dwyer said council was working in partnership with Caloundra Off Road Cycling Association Inc (CORCA) via a Memorandum of Understanding to continue to maintain and develop the reserve’s trail network for community use.

He concluded “the MOU aims to form the basis of a working relationship to protect the value of the site to the mountain bike community whilst still accounting for its natural values along with use by the greater Sunshine Coast community.”

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