New Central Otago bike tracks planned

Mountain Bikers of Alexandra have signed a management agreement with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to build and manage mountain bike tracks on public conservation land.

DOC partnership ranger in Alexandra, Jacob Dexter, says, “There’s some fantastic mountain biking around Alexandra but few of the established tracks are on public land.”

“DOC and the club recognise the potential to build some great new tracks and to raise the national profile of mountain biking in Central Otago. This partnership is the first step to achieving that.”

Local mountain bikers have highly valued relationships with private landowners, however, tracks on public land can be signposted and promoted for public use. This isn’t possible for tracks on private land which are there solely at the goodwill of landowners.

New mountain bike tracks the club plans to build will complement the existing cycling and walking trail network.

Mountain Bikers of Alexandra president, Jonno Kingsford, says, “Signing of the agreement with DOC is a significant partnership between the department, with its land resources and expertise, and the local community, with their mountain biking and track building skills, local knowledge and committed people. The new tracks have the potential to be as good as anywhere in the country. Mountain bikers and the local economy will benefit from the proposed new tracks.”

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