BNT and temporary green mountain bike trails
There are some changes coming to the Bicentennial National Trail (BNT) and some of the green mountain bike (MTB) trails at Stromlo Forest Park (SFP).
As a result of the new criterium track extension, a few changes are being made to other trails at Stromlo Forest Park to help make the park more user-friendly.
The criterium track extension was created to provide a safe, separate entry access point for cyclists after the 2020 Stromlo Leisure Centre development resulted in increased onsite vehicle traffic through the main entrance.
SFP will reroute the BNT, which is used solely by equestrians within SFP, so they don’t have to cross over the new criterium track extension. SFP needs to relocate the BNT through an area currently utilised by green MTB trails.
MTB riders never fear! To compensate for the loss of the green MTB trails, new trails will be created nearby so there'll still be plenty of options for beginners and young families.
The upcoming five year SFP Tracks and Trails Masterplan will include longer term/permanent solutions for these MTB trails, as these new green MTB trails will eventually be removed to make way for the future ACT Sport and Recreation District Playing Fields.
Users of Stromlo Forest Park will soon have an opportunity to have a say on this five year Trails Masterplan process, which will identify new opportunities to build a range of permanent trail experiences across SFP for all users (runners, equestrians, bike riders and general recreational users). This will include a mix of mountain bike green, blue and black rated trails for riders of all abilities.
Do you have feedback? Please email stromloforestpark@act.gov.au.
Q&As
- Why are these changes happening?
- Now that the criterium track extension is complete, we needed to reroute the equestrian BNT so that it didn’t cross over the new criterium track.
- As a result of this reroute of the BNT, two green MTB trails will be decommissioned. Replacement trails are being built nearby compensate for the loss of family-friendly MTB trails.
- Why is the BNT being moved?
- The criterium track extension was created to provide a safe, separate entry access point for cyclists after the 2020 Stromlo Leisure Centre (SLC) development resulted in increased onsite vehicle traffic through the main SFP entrance.
- The BNT previously travelled across the site of the criterium circuit extension. The BNT at SFP is equestrian access only. It was identified that the BNT would need to be rerouted elsewhere in SFP to avoid having to cross the new criterium track extension.
- Why are the replacement trails temporary?
- The construction of the ACT Sport and Recreation District Playing Fields (DPF) in the coming years will require these particular green trails to eventually be removed. By this time, the SFP tracks and trails masterplan will have been finalised and include allowances for permanent family and beginner friendly replacement trails.
- There are other green trails in the park, why do these ones need replacement?
- These trails are particularly family and beginner friendly, on relatively flat terrain and in close proximity to the carpark, making them especially accessible.
- Relocating them close by will ensure these trails can continue to support entry-level mountain bikers, as well as equestrians.