Be part of a pivotal moment in the future of mountain biking in Victoria!
Join organisers PLA (VicTas), Outdoors Victoria, and Blue Sky Trails for the inaugural Victorian Sustainable Mountain Bike Trails Summit.
This landmark event, supported by AusCycling and Box Hill Institute, will bring together land managers, trail advocates, industry leaders, and community representatives to shape the future of Victoria’s mountain bike trails.
With trails woven through forests, parks, and urban landscapes, mountain biking plays a vital role in Victoria’s outdoor culture. Whether it’s a family getting out on local trails or dedicated MTB riders, for many, it’s more than just a sport, it’s a way of life that fosters connection to nature, community health, social inclusion, and local economic growth.
Why This Summit Matters
Victoria’s trail networks are under growing pressure from increased use and changing environmental and legislative conditions. Now is the time to take a collaborative, strategic look at how we plan, manage, and sustain trails as valuable assets.
Whether you’re a land manager, council officer, trail builder, club committee member, or policy maker, if mountain biking intersects with your work or lifestyle, this Summit is your chance to engage deeply and help lead a shift toward a sustainable future.
What Will Be Happening
The summit will focus on:
Exploring ways to support existing Victorian MTB trails and ensure their long-term sustainability
Strategic and policy considerations shaping the future of the sector
Sustainable operating models that support environmental resilience and community engagement
Governance and management structures that balance risk, data, and public benefit
Check out the draft program and speakers below for more information.
Program
10:00am - Opening, welcome and setting the scene
Andrew Knight (Outdoors Victoria), David Strickland (Sport and Recreation Victoria) and Aaron Hosking (Box Hill Institute)
Andrew Knight (Outdoors Victoria), David Strickland (Sport and Recreation Victoria) and Aaron Hosking (Box Hill Institute)
Building Sustainable Foundations
Ash Gray (Blue Sky Trails)
Ash Gray (Blue Sky Trails)
Ash Gray will share key insights from AusCycling’s Victorian Trail Governance and Maintenance Workshops. This session will ground us in the realities facing clubs, land managers, and agencies, and set the foundation for the deeper discussions throughout the day.
The Future of MTB Trails in Victoria
DEECA, Parks Victoria, ARV, GORCAPA
DEECA, Parks Victoria, ARV, GORCAPA
State agencies share their insights on where things are working, what challenges they face, what they’re optimistic about, and what outcomes they are looking for from the day. Expect conversations on strategies, resourcing, risk, and future planning. Speakers:
- Ben Howells, Snr Manager Planning Strategy and Insights, Parks Victoria,
- Richard Wadsworth, State Recreation and Tourism Coordinator, DEECA,
- Callum Brown, General Manager Lake Mountain, ARV,
- Matt Aquilina, Trail Coordinator, GORCAPA
Learnings from WA Trails
Rod Annear (WA Parks and Wildlife Service)
Rod Annear (WA Parks and Wildlife Service)
Learning from WA Trails, an exemplar State – further details to follow.
Peak Body Perspectives - Nick Hannan (AusCycling)
Nick Hannan will reflect on the growing pressures on MTB clubs, from rising insurance costs to expanding responsibilities. And explore how AusCycling is responding through policy, support, and collaboration.
Local Government Insights
Alison Breach (Hepburn Shire) + Michael Jowette (Indigo Shire)
Alison Breach (Hepburn Shire) + Michael Jowette (Indigo Shire)
Hear directly from councils across Victoria with MTB trails in their communities. We’ll learn what’s driving local trail decisions, what challenges councils are facing, and the creative solutions emerging on their trails. Speakers:
- Alison Breach, Project Manager, Djuwang Baring (Creswick Trails) Hepburn Shire Council
- Michael Jowette, Trails Coordinator, Indigo Shire Council
Clubs and volunteer heavy lifting
Simon Carlile (Lysterfield District Trail Riders) + Kylhn Heath (Surfcoast MTB Club)
Simon Carlile (Lysterfield District Trail Riders) + Kylhn Heath (Surfcoast MTB Club)
Clubs are at the coalface donating volunteer time keeping trails open and maintained. They
operate under different operating structures, and are navigating usage pressures, multiagency environments, and volunteer challenges. This session shares case studies and
insights from across Victoria.
12:30pm LUNCH
Data-Informed Trail Management and Dirt Jumps
Craig Meinicke (Blue Sky Trails)
Craig Meinicke (Blue Sky Trails)
How do we get our heads around Dirt Jumps, and where can data help to inform best practice trail management? We will explore DJ guidelines and how data can inform decisions that balance sustainability, user demand, and environmental resilience.
Future trail techniques
Jason Lam (Common Ground Trails)
Jason Lam (Common Ground Trails)
Severe weather events, increasing demand, and new types of users are placing more pressure on how MTB trails perform. This session will share insights into practical approaches to trail designs, tools, and techniques that deliver low maintenance robust trails for the future.
Funding & Future Models
Matt Harrington (Warburton Mountain Bike Destination / Yarra Ranges)
Matt Harrington (Warburton Mountain Bike Destination / Yarra Ranges)
Tourism isn’t the only lever. What options are there to fund trail maintenance? What models should we consider, and where have these been successful. We’ll hear about emerging and alternative models for funding sustainable trails.
Workshop - How Might We?
Together we’ll tackle the big questions that arise during the day, we think, (but of course don’t yet know!) they could be along the lines of…
What are the greatest challenges facing Victorian MTB trails? What would it take to solve them? And what actions can we take now to shift the dial?
Should a Vic Trails Working group be formed to represent the MTB trail community? Who should be on it and what should their mandate look like?
If the Vic MTB Trails community were to approach State Government, what should it ask? And how could it be delivered?
3:30pm Wrap up + Close
Who’s Involved
We’re bringing together land managers, trail advocates, industry leaders, and community representatives to shape the future of Victoria’s mountain bike trails. Check out some of the confirmed event supporters below.
