Work is set to begin on a network of trails that will turn Omeo into a mecca for mountain bikers.
The Omeo Mountain Bike Trails will put the Alpine town on the map as a year-round active tourism destination and capture nationwide demand for outdoor adventure.
Work on Stage 1 will begin late this month, with contactor Common Ground Trails, who built the Pump and Skills Track in Livingstone Park, using a workforce of current staff and locals for the build.
It is expected the first trail will be available for riding by December this year, with Stage 1 completed by December 2023.
The first stage will include:
- 56 kilometres of cross-country and downhill gravity trails
- Switchback climbs for over 500m up nearby Mt Mesley
- An easy loop trail parallel to the Great Alpine Road that leads to the Historical Oriental Claims area.
- A descending trail of over 500 vertical metres from the summit of Mt Sam linking to Mt Mesley and finishing in Livingstone Park
The trails will meet Mountain Bike Australia criteria for national events with event plans underway for when Stage 1 is completed.
“It will see more people discover the unspoilt beauty of Omeo and the High Country and provide a boost for local businesses and jobs,” East Gippsland Mayor Mark Reeves said.
“The local community has embraced the project and look forward to introducing visitors to the spectacular landscapes that surround their town.”
“This is a major project for not only Omeo, but East Gippsland and Victoria. It puts us in the conversation of national and world-class mountain biking. This will create opportunities for cycling tourism, economic diversity and growth in the High Country, and major events.
This project has been funded by Council, the Victorian Government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund, and the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund and more recently the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund.
The project has been made possible through the strong collaborative efforts of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Parks Victoria and a dedicated group of community supporters working with Council.
