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Finishing touches are being put in place ahead of the opening of the Tweed’s first official mountain bike park and pump track at Uki.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Wollumbin/Mt Warning, the Tweed’s newest outdoor recreation facility will welcome mountain bikers of all ages, experience and abilities when it officially opens on Saturday 7 October.
Tweed Shire Council, in partnership with Tweed Valley Mountain Bike Riders, engaged outdoor trail design and construction specialists Trailworx to build more than 6.4 km of mountain bike trails on Council-owned operational land adjacent to the Uki Wastewater Treatment Plant on Smiths Creek Road at Uki.
The facility features 6.4 km of track across eight mountain bike trails including one climbing and seven descending trails. The tracks are made up of four green trails (beginner), three blue trails (more difficult) and one black diamond trail (very difficult).
A pump track (skills park) specially designed to suit children aged 5 – 12 years is also included.
Council’s Manager Parks and Active Communities Murray Smith said it was exciting to finally see the vision for a mountain bike park in the Tweed come to life.
“Construction has been completed and the finishing touches are being put on the trails ahead of our official opening in October,” Mr Smith said.
“We are really excited to deliver this fantastic facility for the mountain bike community and wider Tweed community and can’t wait to see how the riders, families and kids enjoy the park for years to come.
“We are confident this will become another jewel in the crown of the Tweed’s recreational spaces, where families and friends can come together to enjoy the outdoors, be active and healthy together and have some fun.”
The Tweed Valley Mountain Bike Riders club played a significant role in getting this facility off the ground, from planting the seed as an idea more than 10 years ago to helping to source funding and physically assisting on site with tree planting and rehabilitation works.
Club president Hugh Flower welcomed the new facility and said it would be a fantastic asset to mountain bikers and the wider community.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be part of this project and see it come to fruition. This will be a huge drawcard for local mountain bike enthusiasts, as well as visitors to the region,” Mr Flower said.
“The facility will be a great outdoor space for everyone to get involved and for new riders to try the sport, providing more opportunities for kids in the Tweed to get outside and get active."
An official opening and community celebration event is planned for Saturday 7 October, with details to be released closer to the time.
Finishing touches ahead of the official opening include the installation of portable toilets, a specially designed water filling station, signage including trail markers, park map and rules, as well as final landscaping and planting.
Future concept plans for the site include provision for shade structures, seating and tables, landscaping, pathways and permanent toilet facilities, however this is dependent upon securing additional funding.
Uki Mountain Bike Park is at 165 Smiths Creek Road, near Uki. Entry will be free, with opening hours from 6 am to 6 pm daily. The park may close at any time due to weather conditions (rain, wet or muddy tracks, high winds, fire danger).
The project has been made possible thanks to a $430,000 grant awarded through the NSW Office of Sport – Regional Sports Facility Fund 2021-22.
The facility is part of Council’s commitment to providing our community with opportunities to be active and healthy, as well as ensuring the Tweed is a vibrant place to live and visit.
Find out more at tweed.nsw.gov.au/mountain-biking.
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