The establishment of the Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trail Network in 2015 marked a change in the future for the town of Derby and transformed the town into a mountain biking mecca attracting in excess of 60,000 visitors a year from across the world. The economic impacts of the Blue Derby Mountain Bike Trails conservatively contribute $20 million per annum directly to Derby from accommodation, transport, experiences and food and beverage. However, this figure is closer to a $50 million contribution when a multiplier effect is taken into account, including positive impacts of employment and construction in the area required to service the demand. Blue Derby’s importance to the region cannot be overstated and must be protected in light of the expansion of mountain biking within Tasmania and nationally. Since the inception of the trails mountain biking across Australia has seen a significant growth in participation. With the mountain bike visitation investment and development growth, Derby is at a point now where it is beginning to be constrained through limitations in land availability, geographical barriers and service and infrastructure accessibility. Derby’s success has had a significant ripple effect across the regional economy. This project has been initiated to provide the foundations for the community and the network to ensure the services, and infrastructure continue to meet the needs of visitors and the surrounding communities now and into the future. It is a project not only of regional significance but of state significance.

Support requested

A total of $520,000 is required to undertake this project and complete a holistic and comprehensive master planning exercise. Dorset Council has already commenced with Structure Plans to understand land zoning and availability of the area and inform the master planning exercise.

For more information, please contact Dorset Council

P: (03) 6352 6500, E: dorset@dorset.tas.gov.au