Finch Hatton MTB

Community update #4

If you couldn't attend the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trail Community Update Session on Sunday, November 13, at the Finch Hatton Showground Hall, you can see it here.

The presentation features a project update, a planning update and a business/tourism update.

Should you have any questions about the presentation, please contact our community engagement officer Rebecca Batzloff on 1300 MACKAY (622 529) or email rebecca.batzloff@mackay.qld.gov.au.

Public Notification

The Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Park (Stage 1) development application has progressed to Public Notification. Stage 1 consists of facilities, landscaping and a carpark at the trailhead site and the first 16km of the trail network.

Between Wednesday, November 9 and Thursday, December 1, 2022, any person can make a signed and written submission to:

Chief Executive Officer,

Mackay Regional Council,

PO Box 41, Mackay QLD 4740,

or via email at Development.Services@mackay.qld.gov.au.

The submission may support or object to all or part of the development proposal, however it must be ‘properly made’ and based on reasonable grounds and include relevant supporting evidence or documentation.

A ‘properly made’ submission:

• Is signed by each person who made the submission
• States the name and residential or business address of all submission-makers
• Includes one postal or electronic address for response
• Is made out the assessment manager (council); and
• Is lodged to council by Thursday, December 1, 2022.

Council will consider properly made submissions when deciding the application.

To review the application material, including proposal plans, search DA-2022-155 via Council’s online application portal here.

Make sure you reserve your seat!

Council will be holding a Mountain Bike Trails community update session in Finch Hatton this Sunday.

The session will include a project update, a planning update and a business/tourism update.

Session details:

Date: Sunday, November 13, 2022

Time: 10am to 11.30am

Venue: Finch Hatton Showground Hall

Online registration is required. Please visit Eventbrite to register.

If you cannot attend the session, the presentation will be made available online at connectingmackay.com.au/mountain-bike-trails after the session.

Should you require any further information, please visit connectingmackay.com.au/mountain-bike-trails or contact council’s community engagement officer Rebecca Batzloff on 1300 MACKAY (622 529) or email rebecca.batzloff@mackay.qld.gov.au.

Public Realm Project Update #1

Save the date - Community Update Session (November 13)

Council will be holding a Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails community update session in Finch Hatton on Sunday, November 13.

The session will include a project update, a planning update and a business/tourism update.

Session details:

Date: Sunday, November 13, 2022

Time: 10am to 11.30am

Venue: Finch Hatton Showground Hall

Online registration is required. Please visit Eventbrite to register.

If you cannot attend the session, the presentation will be made available online at connectingmackay.com.au/mountain-bike-trails after the session.

Should you require any further information, please visit connectingmackay.com.au/mountain-bike-trails or contact council’s community engagement officer Rebecca Batzloff on 1300 MACKAY (622 529) or email rebecca.batzloff@mackay.qld.gov.au.

Mountain Bike Trails still going head

The Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trail (PVMBT) project is still going ahead, despite the Queensland Government’s plans to build a pumped hydro scheme in the Pioneer-Burdekin area.

Based on the information given to council, and the likely timing of the project, it appears there will be no impacts on the ability of council to deliver the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trail Project.

The PVMTB Project is expected to be constructed between 2023 and 2025 which would precede any works on the proposed Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro scheme. At this stage there is no suggestion to change our plans or timing of the delivery of the mountain bike project.

Council will be holding another community update session in November to provide residents with a project update.

Should you have any questions about the mountain bike trail project, please contact council’s community engagement team on 1300 MACKAY (622 529) or email engagement@mackay.qld.gov.au.

Mentoring program sets Pioneer Valley business on the right path

Things are buzzing in the Pioneer Valley, especially for local business CannonBee.

The family-owned and Eungella based business uses natural beekeeping practices to produce raw honey and beeswax products, including Eungella Raw Rainforest Honey and Propolis and Raw Honey Face Polish.

Business owner Janine Cannon recently participated in the second round of council's one-on-one tailored mentoring program for small business owners.

Mrs Cannon said the program offered a fantastic opportunity to learn how to leverage off the growing tourism market in the Pioneer Valley.

"We are mostly a product-based business, so it has been wonderful to get some expert advice on how we can move into more education focussed aspects such as hosting tours and workshops on beekeeping," Mrs Cannon said.

Mayor Greg Williamson said this current round of the program had been aimed at existing businesses, as well as start-ups with a business idea that supported the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails.

"Council is investing in the program as part of our ongoing commitment to growing the visitor economy and ensuring the Mackay region continues to grow as a highly-regarded leisure destination," Mayor Williamson said.

"We want the Mackay region to be front of mind for travellers seeking nature experiences and we want to offer a high standard of experiences for them to enjoy while visiting," he said.

Council offers a free five-part webinar series focused on business development for businesses in the Pioneer Valley. They are available on council's website at https://bit.ly/3cyZM2k.

The Small Business Mentoring Program is designed and facilitated by independent mentors, business and tourism experts, Sparrowly Group on behalf of Mackay Regional Council.

Widi representatives to fly over mountain bike trails

Representatives from Widi will take to the sky on Monday, September 5, to conduct cultural heritage investigations over the proposed Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails.

Their findings will inform the project's cultural heritage management plan.

Their helicopter will be taking off and landing at the Eungella Oval between the hours of 10am and 1pm.

Residents are asked to please refrain from using the oval between these hours.

Should you have any questions about these works, please contact council's project manager Adam Pearce on 1300 MACKAY (622 529).

Lots to do at the Finch Hatton Trailhead site!

The Finch Hatton trailhead site will be a place where you start and finish your mountain bike adventure and enjoy a family day out.

The design for the trailhead site on Lot 11 Anzac Parade, Finch Hatton, has been completed.

The design is based on the extensive consultation that council had with the Pioneer Valley community and industry experts last year.

The site will include:

• a landscape buffer zone between the residential properties and the trailhead site
• historical features
• a pump track
• footpaths
• picnic shelters
• toilets
• recreational open space
• a bike wash area
• overflow parking
• connection to the trails and township.

The design has been included in the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trail Stage 1 Development Application (DA), which has now been lodged. The DA was lodged by a consultant on behalf of the project team and will be considered by council and the State Government over the coming months.

Whilst the DA is being reviewed, the project team will be working on stage 2 of the trail alignments and seeking the required approvals.

Council will hold another community update session before the end of the year, to update everyone on the project, including the status of the Stage 1 works (the Finch Hatton Trailhead site and 14 trails).

To stay up-to-date on this project, subscribe to project update emails on the right-hand side of this page.

The Queensland Government have contributed towards design elements of the project, including the detailed design of the trailhead and environmental assessments.

World Trail to complete surveying works!

International trail experts, World Trail, will be surveying the proposed trail network for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails project over the next two weeks, weather permitting.

Two teams will be "ground truthing" the wilderness trails from Eungella to Finch Hatton and the remaining trails on the hills behind Finch Hatton.

As part of this work, they will be assessing the terrain and mapping their preferred trail alignments.

To date, World Trail has mapped 37 kilometres of our trails, and they will complete the remaining 63 kilometres over the next two weeks.

To stay up-to-date on the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails project, subscribe to project update emails on the right-hand side of this page.

The Queensland Government has contributed $500,000 towards this project including the detailed design of the trailhead and environmental assessments.