1909
VOL. 116
NO. 46
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WEDNESDAY, 4 DECEMBER, 2024
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PRICE $1.70 INC GST
• Taylor Clyne, Jacquline Hayden, Luke Petterwood, Chris Cafe, Samantha Kerr, John Marik, Ben and Anastasia Jones with Pete Coleborn are preparing to celebrate 10 years of Blue Derby.
Derby prepares to party BY RACHEL WILLIAMS THE NORTH-EAST’S iconic Blue Derby Mountain Bike trails will soon celebrate 10 years of operation with a major community event being planned for next year and plans to further build on the site’s prosperity. The evolution of the word-renowned trails is continuing with Dorset Council pushing for State or Federal Government investment to guide the next stages of development. Since opening to the public in February 2015, the trails have transformed the town.
But Council General Manager John Marik said it was imperative to futureproof the trails, which he said generate an estimated $20 million a year for the local economy. “Celebrating the past decade of Blue Derby is important, but our focus must now shift to safeguarding this world-class asset for generations to come,” Mr Marik said. Council is calling on the State or Federal Government to fund a $500,000 Derby Master Plan project to outline growth and development opportunities for the town
and its trail network for the next decade and beyond. “With the expansion of mountain bike trails across Tasmania and Australia, it’s vital to maintain Blue Derby’s position at the forefront of the industry,” Mr Marik said. Mr Marik said Blue Derby was the cornerstone of Tasmania’s mountain biking success story, with the $3.25 million in previous Federal and State contributions toward the trail network delivering “an extraordinary return on investment”. With a Federal election looming, it’s
hoped more money will flow to the project, which Blue Derby Foundation Chair Chris Cafe said was an undisputed success story. “We started with 30kms of trails and a dream and we sit here today nearly a decade on with 133km of single track trails encompassing a network that suits the very beginner and families right through to the most hardcore riders,” Mr Cafe said. “Today we are known for having a product that is second to none in the world. When the first trail was built there were barely any places to stay and today we have T CONTINUES ON PAGE 2.
Simon Wood Liberal Member for Bass
n o s a e s y a d li o h y p p a h Wishing you a safe & Authorised by Simon Wood, 139A Hobart Road, Kings Meadows TAS 7249