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The Otium Planning Group has announced the release of a Regional Multi-Use Trails Strategy for Cassowary Coast (CCRC) and Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) regions which they developed alongside the Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation (QORF).

Otium Planning Group provides consultancy services in planning, facility development, management and funding for the sport, recreation and leisure industries throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific.

Within the TRC and CCRC region a significant number of recreation trails exist. However, those trails suffer from a lack of overall strategic consideration. Consequently, planning has often focused on the individual trail opportunity rather than the regional network.

The strategic plan resulting from this project synthesises previous work into a single strategy document. This strategy is also designed to provide a basis for decision making regarding future trail development and will identify priorities and actions that contribute to the overall regional network outcome.

A lack of regional network focus has resulted in isolated links, unfinished connections and stranded opportunities to create larger loops. Previous planning efforts have focussed on council-specific areas, requiring a need to examine detailed opportunities for an inter-connected trail network across the region.

This cross-regional, cross-sectoral, cross-tenure strategy is an example of work that falls within QORF’s charter to the benefit of the Queensland community. QORF is a member-based, not-for-profit association charged with representing a coalition of outdoor recreation groups to advocate on behalf of the outdoor community. A key reason for establishing QORF in 1996 was to facilitate communication between different user groups and levels of government on outdoor recreation related issues.

The purpose of the strategy is to work with councils and stakeholder groups to highlight existing strategic trails and develop a strategic plan to guide the possible further development of multi-use trails across the TRC and CCRC areas.

QORF selected the TRC and CCRC areas as a pilot project for cross-regional planning due to the strong networks already in place between local government authorities and the diverse recreation user groups and users.

The TRC and CCRC have substantial areas of Wet Tropics World Heritage Area within their boundary.  The region’s history includes forestry, mining and agriculture and, subsequently, there is a legacy of tracks and trails throughout the region.

Over the last ten years the mapping and development of trail networks has increased due to the efforts of community driven groups such as TORA (Tablelands Outdoor Recreation Association).  There are now multiple opportunities to ride and walk on both the tablelands and the coastal plain.

Tropical (Far) North Queensland has developed a reputation as a world class mountain bike riding destination. There are also significant trails available for walking, horse-riding and motorised activities (motorcycles, quad-bikes and four-wheel drives).

The Regional Multi-Use Trails Strategy focusses on recreation trails for non-motorised activities, although there may be trails that can be shared by both motorised and non-motorised activities.

It recognises that there is a major opportunity for the region to develop trail-based recreation and tourism further which will benefit residents and expand regional tourism potential.

The study was funded by the State Government under the Get Planning Places Program, which is administered by Sport and Recreation (part of the Department of Housing and Public Works).

Click here to read/download the Regional Multi-Use Trails Strategy for the Cassowary Coast and Tablelands Regional Council areas.

For more information on QORF go to https://qorf.org.au

For more information on Otium Planning, click here to view their listing in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

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