On Wednesday 8th October, organisers PLA (VicTas), Outdoors Victoria, and Blue Sky Trails hosted the inaugural Victorian Sustainable Mountain Bike Trails Summit.
This landmark event, supported by AusCycling and Box Hill Institute, brought together land managers, trail advocates, industry leaders, and community representatives to shape the future of Victoria’s mountain bike trails.
A big thankyou to the 100+ passionate MTB industry representatives who attended on the day to make the first (of hopefully many) summits a huge success!
Why This Summit Mattered…
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.
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.
What Happened?
The summit focused 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 day’s agenda and speakers below for more information.
Program / Agenda
10:00am - Opening, welcome and setting the scene
Rowan Lamont, MC (Blue Sky Trails), David Strickland (Sport and Recreation Victoria) and Aaron Hosking (Box Hill Institute)
Rowan Lamont, MC (Blue Sky Trails), David Strickland (Sport and Recreation Victoria) and Aaron Hosking (Box Hill Institute)
10:20am - Building Sustainable Foundations
Ash Gray (Blue Sky Trails)
Ash Gray (Blue Sky Trails)
Ash Gray shared key insights from AusCycling’s Victorian Trail Governance and Maintenance Workshops. This session grounded us in the realities facing clubs, land managers, and agencies, and set the foundation for the deeper discussions throughout the day.
10:30am - The Future of MTB Trails in Victoria
DEECA, Parks Victoria, ARV, GORCAPA
DEECA, Parks Victoria, ARV, GORCAPA
State agencies shared 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. Speakers included:
- 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,
- Taylah Steer, Trail Coordinator, GORCAPA
11:00am - Learnings from WA Trails
Rod Annear (WA Parks and Wildlife Service)
Rod Annear (WA Parks and Wildlife Service)
We learnt all about WA Trails – an exemplar State – on the who, how, why, when, and what that made it all happen!
11:10am - Peak Body Perspectives - Nick Hannan (AusCycling)
Nick Hannan reflected on the growing pressures on MTB clubs, from rising insurance costs to expanding responsibilities and explored how AusCycling is responding through policy, support, and collaboration.
11:30am - Local Government Insights
Alison Breach (Hepburn Shire) + Michael Jowette (Indigo Shire)
Alison Breach (Hepburn Shire) + Michael Jowette (Indigo Shire)
We heard directly from councils across Victoria with MTB trails in their communities. We learnt 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
12:00pm - 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 shared case studies and insights from across Victoria.
12:30pm LUNCH
1:00pm - Data-Informed Trail Management and Dirt Jumps
Ash Gray (Blue Sky Trails)
Ash Gray (Blue Sky Trails)
This session delved into the questions of How do we get our heads around Dirt Jumps, and where can data help to inform best practice trail management? We explored DJ guidelines and how data can inform decisions that balance sustainability, user demand, and environmental resilience.
1:20pm - 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 shared insights into practical approaches to trail designs, tools, and techniques that deliver low maintenance robust trails for the future.
1:40pm - 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 heard about emerging and alternative models for funding sustainable trails.
2:00pm - Workshop - How Might We?
Together we tackled the big questions that emerged during the day, including:
3:30pm Wrap up + Close
Who Was 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.
What’s next?
As we wash up from the Summit, review the workshop outcomes, and reconnect with all attendees, we will keep you all informed as to progress on the proposed future actions below. In the meantime, checkout the photos from the day in the gallery below!
Summit Outcomes
As part of closing the loop with our summit delegates, we are pleased to share a draft of the Summit Outcomes below which reflect both ambition and action: a distilled set of priority themes, practical recommendations and structural proposals that set the course for a more resilient, inclusive and well-managed mountain-bike network across the State.
Workshop Themes
Demonstrating Impact:
Strengthen the collective story of mountain biking’s value to communities and the environment, and promote the positive business case that exists for MTB investment. This workshop identified ways to communicate evidence of economic, health, social, and environmental benefits.Strengthening Relationships:
Develop strategies to build capacity within the MTB community to support future growth. Recognising that strong, productive relationships are central to effective trail development and management, the workshop focussed on ways that land managers, clubs, and stakeholders can work collaboratively to achieve shared outcomes and long-term success.Expanding Participation:
Increase community awareness of mountain biking as an accessible, fun, active recreation for all, making clubs easier to join, and highlighting trail progression from easy (green) to advanced (black/double black) and the skills required. Planning for the next generation through education, training, and diverse pathways for involvement and leadership.Effective Advocacy:
Present a unified and compelling case to government, aligning with existing priorities and showcasing the wider community benefits of mountain biking. The workshop explored how the Vic MTB community can work together to present MTB’s case to Minister Dimopoulos, and Minister Spence. This workshop identified two pathways, either a current National / State Peak, or create a coordination group to represent the importance of sustainable MTB trails in Victoria. Then define what that group needs to present.
Recommended action areas
- Develop a Standardised Data Collection Framework – Establish consistent metrics, definitions, and templates for capturing participation, visitation, and usage data across mountain bike trails and facilities to ensure comparability and reliability of evidence.
- Adopt Social Return on Investment (SROI) Methodologies – Integrate SROI frameworks to quantify the broader social, health, and community outcomes of mountain biking, translating qualitative benefits into measurable financial and social value.
- Leverage Alternative Evaluation Tools – Use social media analytics, sentiment analysis, and online engagement metrics as complementary evidence of community value, visitor experience, and brand reach.
- Create a Shared Data Repository – Develop a centralised platform or database to house trail usage data, evaluation templates, and case studies, enabling knowledge sharing and collective reporting across organisations and regions.
- Build Capacity and Training – Provide workshops or guidance materials for councils, clubs, and operators on applying uniform data collection methods and modern evaluation tools to strengthen sector-wide impact measurement.
- Land Manager and Club Training – Provide opportunities for regular training for land managers and club leaders to build shared skills, knowledge, and confidence.
- Frameworks – Develop common frameworks and tools (e.g. codes of conduct, club toolkit, sustainable trail guidelines, simplified trail development processes) to align stakeholders.
- Collaboration – Strengthen collaboration and relationships through regular and ongoing programs, case studies, and cross-sector engagement.
- Casual rider education program – Develop an education program for casual riders on trail maintenance (volunteer efforts), classifications, and skill progression (e.g., using snowsports analogy, emphasizing lessons). This could use QR codes at trailheads and promotions via schools/LGAs.
- Events – Program events like “come and try” days, skills clinics, and sessions for specific groups (e.g., women, diverse communities).
- Marketing – Develop a coordinated marketing campaign showcasing mountain biking as a sport for all, including families and diverse groups.
Recommendations on how this could be delivered:
Victorian MTB Clubs Assembly – Form the Assembly, with assistance from Outdoors Victoria and AusCycling, to streamline communication, foster networks and co-ordinate learnings.
Victorian MTB Advisory Council (VMAC) – Form up the VMAC, which would include representatives from the LGA’s (with assistance from PLA), State Government Land Managers (eg. DEECA, ARV, GORCAPA, PV) and several MTB Club representatives elected from the Victorian MTB Clubs Assembly. OV to facilitate in consultation with AusCycling and MTB businesses.
This Assembly and VMAC will then work towards items like a Victorian MTB Strategy, connect with other active recreation groups to better coordinate approaches, aligning with government priorities, and generating compelling case studies and data eg. info on benefits to health, community connection, tourism and small business.
