Creswick businesses are set to reap millions of dollars in added tourism benefits thanks to a new mountain bike trail plan.
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State government figures estimate the Hepburn Shire town is expected to see 80,000 visitors annually by 2022 when the project is finished.
More than 100 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails will connect unofficial tracks near Creswick to the town itself.
A trail head will be established at the town’s Hammon Park where a pump track will also be built.
Signage will be built right across the new network.
Residents and the Hepburn Shire Council have been pursuing the project for seven years.
Hepburn Shire mayor Sebastian Klein said the community had been involved since the beginning.
“From when council were first involved seven years ago, from the local councillors, staff and mayors, there has been lots of lobbying,” he said.
“This space at Hammon Park, which is actually under utilised in the community, will be used.
“Hepburn Shire is the spa and wellness capital of the state, so to join these tracks with the goldfields track is really fantastic.”
A state government regional tourism and infrastructure grant will fund the development of the trails.
The RACV Goldfields Resort has already invested in the development of mountain bike trails in the Creswick area.
The project will create at least 30 jobs in the Creswick area.
Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford said the project would be a massive boost to the visitor economy, tourism and community at Creswick.
“This will be a very big project for Creswick, which they have been chasing for seven years.”
Ms Pulford was in the town to announce the million dollar grant with community members, mountain bike riders and councillors last week.
“With more than 80,000 annual visitors expected within five years, this couldn’t be more exciting for local businesses,” she said.
“We want more people to enjoy our great outdoors and spend more time in regional Victoria because it has the best of everything.
“The combination of a trail network that is accessible by public transport and linked to a major resort presents a truly unique opportunity that has never been delivered in Victoria.”
Creswick Ward Cr Don Henderson said the plan to build mountain bike trails had grown from a small project seven years ago.
“We had to convince the council itself that Creswick should have a mountain bike Mecca, it was not something that was already there.”
