Community-led bike events play a vital role in activating rail trails and cycling infrastructure, strengthening local economies and growing sustainable cycling tourism across regional Queensland. Many rail trail user associations, community groups and councils have the enthusiasm to host events but can lack access to practical, fit-for-purpose guidance on event planning, risk management and delivery. This Event Management Plan (EMP) has been developed to address that gap by providing a clear, adaptable and publicly available resource to support organisations of all sizes to confidently plan and deliver successful rail trail cycling events. 

Designed as a standalone guide, this EMP walks organisations through the key stages of event conception, planning, delivery and review, with templates and tools that can be tailored to local context, capacity and scale. The resource is intentionally non-prescriptive, enabling broad use regardless of an organisation’s relationship with BQ.  

By building local event management capability, the EMP supports the long-term sustainability of rail trail events, complements the Rail Trail Development Toolkit, and contributes to the Queensland Government’s objective of empowering regional communities to leverage bike tourism opportunities while ensuring events are safe, well-managed and community focused. 

We acknowledge and thank the Queensland Government for their support for this initiative. 

For any queries relating to the EMP, please contact Bicycle Queensland on email – info@bq.org.au

Rail Trail Event Management Plan 

1a. Planning and Delivery Guidelines

1b. Event Management Plan Template

2. Event Proposal Form Template

3. Event Project Plan Template

4. Event Marketing Plan Template

5. Event Budget Template

6. Event Risk Management Plan template

7. Event Executive Plan Template

Sherwood Community Kindergarten deliver a play-based curriculum as part of their teaching methodology, and that includes bike riding, especially for how cycling can build a sense of community and independence. This year, thanks to funding from the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ Bike Riding Encouragement Program, the kindy ran a nine-week bike skills course that got every child riding confidently.

“For us, it’s not just about riding a bike,” says Skye, the Director at Sherwood Community Kindy. “It’s providing a skill for life. You want to provide that active transport ability for their life. Bike riding is like walking – it’s just something that we do as part of our community.”

Bikes are a part of life

Sherwood Kindy has always encouraged active pursuits, given they use nature play and are right next to a park, but this program took it to a new level. “From day one we’ve been riding in some shape or form at the kindergarten,” Skye explains. “It’s about normalising it, so it’s not just something special we do one day – bikes just become part of life.”

The children’s response has been enthusiastic. “Some of the children have already said, ‘When we get older, we want to be bike riders,’” Skye says. “They’re really engaged and it’s not gendered either. The girls are just as strong as the boys in their riding and their skill set as well. We’re promoting that it’s for everybody.”

The nine-week program was developed externally and focused on building core skills: balance, coordination, resilience, and confidence. Out of 22 children, 14 could already ride at the start. “Seven were non-riders,” Skye recalls. “Now everyone can ride without training wheels. How amazing is that? In week one, one child said, ‘I hate my bike, I don’t want to ride,’ and then got the skills and confidence the next day and said, ‘I love it.’”

That transformation has been powerful for children and families alike. “Every single child has been riding,” Skye says. “If they didn’t have a bike, the coaches brought in bikes for them so they could practise on one that was the right fit. A lot of the children have bikes that are too big – the ‘you’ll grow into it’ bike – but that doesn’t build confidence. You need the right size bike now to learn properly.”

Community effort

The program has united families around riding. “Before children even enrol, we tell parents this is something we do,” Skye says. “When parents visit the kindergarten, they see us out riding. And in the afternoons, the kids take their parents to the park to show them what they’ve learned. It’s building skills and it’s building community. When we are out in the park people come out and say, ‘Wow, look at them all riding.’”

Coaches played a vital role too, bringing in appropriately sized bikes and creating a fun environment. “We had a cyclocross course in the park with ramps and hurdles,” Skye says. “The kids had to dismount and run up with their bikes. It was brilliant and I’m sure there are some champions in the making already!”

Sherwood’s program took a holistic approach to riding and using bikes, but it started with road safety awareness. “We spoke about all those safety issues first,” Skye explains. “All the kids know that if there’s a pedestrian, we have to stop. We looked at signs, we practised ringing our bell at the right time, walking the course before riding it. It’s about teaching them to be safe and respectful road users from the beginning, and how to make the best decisions.”

That approach has been well received by the wider community. “People have been very respectful to the children when they’re riding in the park,” Skye says. “And we are always polite – we’re following the laws and showing that children can be part of the space safely.”

Running the program wasn’t without hurdles, and Sherwood Community Kindy has some advantages given their location. “Space was a big consideration,” Skye admits. “We’re lucky to be next to a park that’s not very busy. For other kindy services finding a safe, close space might be a challenge – but it’s a problem worth solving.”

Funding was another factor, as it meant the kindy could enlist an external group to deliver the sessions. “The grant was $5,000,” she says. “Which is not too bad. For what we got – more or less every child riding a bike – that’s spectacular.”

Skye is already looking ahead. “I’ve found another grant opportunity for next year because we want to continue this program. If not, we’ll fundraise or talk to our local members. We don’t want this to be a one-off – it’s something we do because we believe everyone should be confident to ride a bike.”

Getting rolling

For other kindys considering a similar program, Skye’s advice is simple: just do it. “This is the future. You have to get not just the children, but the families active. It’s not just for now, being able to ride a bike is a lifelong skill. It builds confidence, it builds community, and it’s so amazing to see the joy on the kids when they’re able to ride.”

She also believes programs like this could be more widespread. “Brisbane City Council doesn’t offer anything like this for this age group,” she says. “Even the coaches hadn’t taught this age group before – but the little kids can ride. This is where you get the foundation skills.”

Ultimately, the goal is bigger than one kindergarten. “We need to get back to making sure every child can ride a bike before they start school,” Skye says. “It gives them joy, confidence, and a way to connect with their community. We should be encouraging it from the very beginning.”

It’s been 20 years since the tragic death of Amy Gillett, a moment that stopped the Australian riding community in its tracks and ignited a movement for safer roads. Since then, the organisation founded in her memory has evolved into one of the country’s leading national voices for road safety: Amy’s Foundation.

While its name has evolved, its purpose has not. As Managing Director Katey Bates puts it, “Our vision is zero deaths and injuries on the road. We do that through infrastructure, technology, and law, and by improving the relationship between road users. None of that is easy, but it’s essential.”

With Queensland’s road toll topping 250 for 2025 at the time of writing, the need to improve road safety, for all users, has never been higher.

Bates, a former professional cyclist and Olympian, brings both lived experience and sharp strategic focus to the role. She speaks with the energy of someone used to attacking from the front of the bunch, yet her thinking is methodical, data-driven and deeply layered.

“Everything we do, we look at through two lenses: what can we change now, and what do we need to work on for generational change?” she says.

Working Together for Safer Roads

Bates is quick to point out that road safety advocacy in Australia is dependent on collaboration, and to that end she recognises the different roles that organisations like Amy’s Foundation and Bicycle Queensland, or other state bodies play.

“Amy’s Foundation is unique because we operate nationally,” she says. “But that means we can’t get into every local or state issue. That’s where the incredible work of advocacy bodies like Bicycle Queensland is so important. A federated system of government needs state-based organisations to drive change on the ground. We can then focus on the national levers – things like technology, enforcement, and legislative reform.”

That division of effort gives Amy’s Foundation the flexibility to explore projects that complement rather than duplicate state-level work. For example, Bates points to their involvement in promoting technology that helps protect vulnerable road users. Amy’s Foundation have developed a Car Buyers Guide, designed to equip people with the tools needed to inform their purchase and ask questions about the integrated safety systems that modern cars have.

“Cars today have amazing safety features,” she says. “We’re working with partners to ensure those tools, things like automated emergency braking or cyclist detection, are used to make roads safer for everyone, not just drivers.”

She sees a similar balance between short- and long-term change in their approach to law enforcement. The Foundation’s Metre Matters campaign helped make minimum passing distances law across most of Australia. “That was a huge achievement,” Bates says. “But now we need to make sure it’s enforced. We’re working on ways to make enforcement easier for police, including technology that can record passing distances accurately.”

Anyone who has experienced a close pass but then struggled to find a clear and consistent way to have the issue enforced will understand how important this action on enforcement is. Any of us will automatically get an infringement notice for running a red light or speeding when driving in an area where cameras exist – so why can’t technology be used for similar automated enforcement for close passes on bike riders?

Developing lasting impact

For Bates, the key to sustainable impact is recognising that real change happens at multiple speeds.

“Take car safety,” she explains. “Right now, we can give every driver a car buyer’s guide that explains what to ask for in a safer car. This is a short-term action. But in the longer term, we’re pushing for changes to the Australian Design Rules, so those features become mandatory. That’s when you really shift the needle.”

The same mindset applies to culture. Bates believes that one of the hardest and most important parts of the Foundation’s mission is improving the relationship between all road users.

“It’s getting harder,” she admits. “We’re seeing empathy fatigue. People are tired, distracted and stressed. The result of that plays out on the road. We can’t just ask people to care more; we have to shift what’s socially acceptable.”

That’s where one of her most striking ideas comes in, and it requires a complete cultural shift for the majority of Australians and Australian media. Difficult – yes, but there are examples that Bates highlighted to show it’s not impossible.

“If you really want to know what culture change looks like,” Bates says, “think about how it became unacceptable not to pick up after your dog. Twenty years ago, people didn’t blink if you didn’t. Now, it’s mortifying. You’d never leave it on the grass because you’d be judged for it.”

Her goal is to make cyclist hate equally uncool.

“Right now, it’s still somehow acceptable to mock cyclists – to sell merchandise that’s blatantly anti-cyclist, or to post online about how we ‘don’t belong on the road.’ That has to change. If you scare a rider, if you brag about close-passing, if you put an offensive sticker on your car, it should be seen as completely unacceptable. That’s how we’ll get real, lasting culture change.”

“Imagine if every cyclist in Queensland had just one calm, respectful conversation a year with someone who didn’t understand their perspective,” she says. “That’s thousands of chances to shift attitudes. It doesn’t have to be preachy. It’s about getting people to rethink those little moments.”

The impact of people power can drive incremental change that adds up. “Every time we behave respectfully on the road, every time we model patience or empathy, we’re teaching the next generation. That’s what I see with my kids – they notice how I respond. That’s culture change in action.”

Leadership Beyond Funding

Unlike most advocacy groups, Amy’s Foundation isn’t member-funded. Its supporters include philanthropists and business leaders who are personally invested in road safety.

“That independence gives us a lot of flexibility,” Bates explains. “Our donors aren’t just giving money, they’re giving expertise. The intellectual capital is priceless.”

It’s a model that values ideas and innovation as much as dollars. “Yes, we need to keep the lights on,” Bates says, “but our biggest asset is the calibre of people who believe in what we’re doing. They help us see things differently and sometimes completely outside the advocacy bubble.”

For Bates, that mix of community action, smart policy, and collaboration across sectors is what keeps Amy’s Foundation pushing forward.

“There’s no single solution to road safety,” she says. “We need state bodies like BQ fighting for better infrastructure. We need national organisations like Amy’s working on technology, law, and enforcement. And we need every rider – or every person – modelling respect and empathy on the road.”

And the drive is simple: making roads safer for everyone who uses them.

“Culture change, technology, law – they’re all part of it. But what really matters is remembering that we share the road. Every decision we make, big or small, should start from that.”

amysfoundation.org.au

For Bicycle Queensland member Kathryn Good, bikes have never just been about sport or recreation. They’ve always been part of everyday life.

“I grew up in a riding family,” she says. “My dad would take me to preschool in a trailer on the back of his bike. Me and my brother would be bundled in together, and he’d ride to work afterwards. He was a very keen cyclist, so I definitely grew up seeing bikes as a normal way to get around.”

That early exposure set the tone. Kathryn learned to ride when quite young , including a few inevitable spills along the way, but it wasn’t until university that cycling really became central again.

“When I started uni, I didn’t have a car. I couldn’t afford one,” she says. “So I started riding to and from campus because it was simply the best way to get around. I think anyone who rides regularly in Brisbane probably becomes an advocate by default. You see what’s working, what’s not, and you experience both the freedom and the frustration of riding here.”

Her daily route to the University of Queensland was a mix of suburban backstreets and arterial traffic with little access separated bikeways back then. “I was a headstrong 18- or 19-year-old taking the lane, being assertive about my right to be there,” she laughs. “These days I’m probably a bit more cautious. Preserving my life feels more important!”

That first-hand experience shaped Kathryn’s perspective on cycling advocacy. “You do eventually realise that a lot of people just don’t like you because you’re on a bike – for no other reason,” she says. “But the good news is, I think that’s changing. The rise of e-bikes has made a huge difference. More people are discovering that a bike is just a convenient, affordable way to get around. You don’t have to be a ‘cyclist’ to ride a bike.”

It’s that distinction that Kathryn believes will help move Queensland forward. “Not everyone who gets into a car sees themselves as a motoring enthusiast,” she points out. “They just drive to get around. That’s how it should be for bikes too.”

The opportunities in Brisbane

Kathryn is quick to acknowledge Brisbane’s progress. “We do have some amazing infrastructure. I’m lucky to live right near the Bicentennial Bikeway, which made commuting into the city so easy for years,” she says. “But there are still so many gaps, especially around key destinations like shops, stations, and schools.”

Her wish list? “A network that actually connects where people live to where they want to go. Major roads should have bikeways, the same way they have footpaths. For example, from Toowong to Indooroopilly there’s no direct, safe route by bike. You end up taking massive detours or dealing with narrow overpasses and missing links. It’s that last kilometre that often lets people down.”

Kathryn believes cultural change is just as important as infrastructure. “Lower speed limits, better pedestrian crossings, more driver awareness – those things help everyone, not just people on bikes. It’s not about choosing one mode over another. It’s about designing streets that are safe and comfortable for all users.”

The Story Bridge Bike Bus

Kathryn’s advocacy came into focus during Brisbane’s Story Bridge Bike Bus campaign, a grassroots response to the closure of key cycling access routes across the bridge after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

“The idea was part protest, part practical solution,” she explains. “We wanted to raise awareness, but also to provide a way for people to actually get across safely. Seeing groups of riders using the bridge every day sent a message: people ride here, and we belong here.”

Riding on the Story Bridge traffic deck is completely legal – but not palatable when there are shared paths either side. With those closed, safety in numbers was a core motivation for the Bike Bus. “We had people who’d been crossing alone for weeks, including one older gentleman who carried his golf clubs to Nudgee. He told me he’d been doing it solo until the bike bus started. I just thought if that were my grandfather, I’d want someone riding with him. Even if we only helped one person get across safely, it was worth it.”

That sense of care and of community resonated widely. “We had overwhelmingly positive feedback,” Kathryn says. “Of course there were a few negative Facebook comments, but most people saw the value. And interestingly, there were no crashes during our rides.” Unfortunately the Bike Bus did receive a number of close passes, a reminder of the public education that needs to happen around sharing the road and transport equity.

The project also highlighted something deeper. “When drivers regularly see bikes on the bridge, they start expecting to see them and that makes it safer for everyone.”

Why advocacy matters

Kathryn joined Bicycle Queensland for the same practical reasons many members do – insurance, peace of mind, and connection to a like-minded community. But she sees the real value in BQ’s advocacy work.

“The advocacy side is so important,” she says. “There’s an increasing number of people using bikes for transport who don’t think of themselves as advocates. But the work that Bicycle Queensland does benefits everyone. You shouldn’t have to be a protester to be able to ride safely — but somebody has to do that work.”

“BQ helps communicate what’s needed around safety, infrastructure and the lessons from other cities. We know what works. We just need to apply it here, and we need a voice to keep reminding decision-makers that this matters.”

Brisbane 2032 and beyond

Like many in Brisbane’s active transport community, Kathryn sees the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a defining opportunity.

“The Olympics are a once-in-a-generation chance to transform how people move around Brisbane,” she says. “Cities like London and Paris used major events to deliver lasting change with better public transport, green corridors, cycling infrastructure, and public spaces. We can do the same.”

The funding, she argues, is already there. “What we need now is political will. The legacy of 2032 shouldn’t just be about medals or stadiums. It should be about how Brisbane evolves as a city. If we get this right, the benefits will last for decades.”

“We have a chance to make Brisbane a city where choosing to ride is easy, safe, and normal,” she says. “Let’s not waste it.”

Kathryn Good was BQ’s Individual Advocate of the Year

When hundreds of riders roll out from the University of Southern Queensland campus on Sunday, March 29, for the 2026 Ipswich Scenic 100, they’ll be taking part in something more than a bike ride.

Behind the start line, the road marshals, the refreshment stops and even the parking crews stand a team of Lions – volunteers from across south-east Queensland who have spent months planning every detail of this iconic community event.

For Lions Brisbane West President Pat Marrinan, the Ipswich Scenic 100 represents the best of what the service organisation stands for: locals giving back to their communities.

“Delivering community benefit is a big motivator for all of us at Lions,” Pat says. “We’re about getting money into the community for projects. That’s the reason Lions exist.”

The Brisbane West Lions Club was founded in 1979, when Bellbowrie was a new and growing suburb on Brisbane’s western fringe.

“Bellbowrie at that stage was a new suburb, and some of the local men saw the need for a community club,” Pat recalls. “They established what was called the Lions Park on Birkin Road, and that park still exists today.”

The club began with around 30 members, Pat himself joined the following year, and like many Lions branches, it quickly became a hub for local initiatives.

By the early 2000s, the club was looking for a major annual fundraiser that could help support its growing list of projects. A few cycling enthusiasts among the members suggested a bike ride. The idea stuck.

“The ride started in Ipswich and at the time it was fairly basic,” Pat says. “For the first three years the event didn’t go as well as hoped – 2004 was really the make-or-break year.”

But the club persevered, refining the event and building connections with nearby Lions branches. That determination paid off. The ride grew steadily, moving to its current home at the University of Southern Queensland Ipswich Campus about 15 years ago. Today, all routes start and finish at the university which provides a base that gives the event a strong community feel and room to grow.

More routes in 2026

For 2026, the Ipswich Scenic 100 will offer four route options to suit a range of riders: 160km, 100km, 50km and a new 25km course.

“The 160 goes out through towns like Rosewood, Harrisville, Kalbar and Boonah,” Pat explains. “The 100km follows the same roads out to Harrisville before turning back, the 50km goes to Rosewood and returns, and the 25km travels to Walloon and back.”

The shorter 25km course is a new addition designed to welcome riders as young as 12 or anyone looking for a more relaxed challenge.

Beyond the start and finish line, five Lions clubs pitch in to make the event happen each year. Ipswich Lions manage parking at the university, while Scenic Rim clubs including Harrisville, Boonah, Rosewood and Fassifern handle marshalling duties and staff the five refreshment stops along the route.

“It hasn’t been easy,” Pat admits. “We’ve had our ups and downs. But it’s been great that those clubs have stuck with us. We also make a donation from the proceeds to each club, which they then use in their own communities – one even built a skate park for local kids.”

Delivering for communities

The Lions’ model is simple: every dollar raised goes back into the community. With minimal overheads and all-volunteer labour, the results add up quickly.

Over the two decades the Ipswich Scenic 100 has been running, the Brisbane West Lions Club estimates it has raised around $1.3 million for local causes. The Ipswich Hospital Foundation has been one of the key beneficiaries, alongside countless smaller community initiatives.

“The 2024 event delivered a profit of $75,000 that we could give away,” Pat says proudly. “We only have basic expenses, so we can generate a sizeable amount to donate, depending on the number of riders.”

While the 2025 edition was cancelled due to weather and flooding, the club is already channelling its energy into making the 2026 event its best yet with Bicycle Queensland proud to come on board as an event partner.

Pat, who has been involved with Lions for more than four decades, says the Ipswich Scenic 100 has become much more than a fundraiser, it can be seen as community spirit in action.

“Part of why Lions exist is to help the community,” he says. “That might be by way of donations, or by personal assistance. And that’s what motivates us to do the event – to be able to donate funds and see that they’re used properly.”

It’s a formula that works. Every Lions club keeps overheads to a minimum, ensuring that almost every dollar raised is returned to the community.

Like many service clubs, Lions face a challenge in attracting new members as people’s time becomes more stretched. But Pat believes the camaraderie and purpose that come with being a Lion are as valuable as ever.

“The best way to get involved is to come to a meeting,” he says. “We have two a month – one is a business meeting where you’ll learn about what the club does, and the second is more social. You have to have those outlets and enjoy yourself – it can’t all be business.”

For Pat, the motivation to serve is its own intrinsic force.

“I’ve always wanted to help people,” he says. “I became a lawyer to help people, and that extends to Lions. I like seeing someone deal with a problem through the help we can provide – making their life a little easier.”

The Ipswich Scenic 100 isn’t just an event for cyclists, it is also a celebration of what community spirit can achieve. From the volunteers at each rest stop to the riders who take on the challenge each March, it’s a reminder that small acts of generosity can make a big difference.

And as Pat puts it, that’s exactly the point.

“We’re proud of what we’ve achieved,” he says. “It’s not just about cycling it’s about building stronger communities.”

The Ipswich Scenic 100 will be held on Sunday, March 29, 2026, starting and finishing at the University of Southern Queensland Ipswich Campus. Bicycle Queensland is proud to partner with Lions Brisbane West for this iconic event. Tickets are available via the BQ website.

Tucked into the slopes of Mount Archer and rideable from Rockhampton’s city centre, First Turkey Mountain Bike Reserve is one of Queensland’s most impressive riding destinations. Despite hosting state level events and attracting attention from national media, many first-time visitors have the same reaction – surprise at just how extensive and varied the trail network is, and how close it sits to town.

First Turkey didn’t come from a large capital works program or a top-down tourism plan. It exists and continues to improve because of a committed local mountain bike community, led by the Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club, that has built momentum through people, persistence and planning.

A park that builds community

First Turkey might have a great mix of trails, but it’s more than that. It’s a place where a mountain bike community has formed and grown. That sense of connection is visible every day in the car park and on the trails with families unloading bikes, kids riding in all conditions, and visitors discovering the network for the first time.

Over the Christmas period, club members noticed a steady stream of travelling riders stopping in at First Turkey. “There was quite a few people I met in the car park who had those scratch maps of mountain biking in Queensland,” says Myall Stevens, Club Vice President of Rockhampton Mountain Bike Club. “They’d come to First Turkey to scratch it off and then end up staying an extra night or two.”

Recent trail openings have drawn crowds of 150 to 200 people, many of them children. “Easily 70 per cent of the people there were kids,” Stevens says. “They’re in there regularly – rain, hail or shine.”

That regular use has helped foster a strong local riding culture, supported by social rides, women’s rides, coffee rides and a growing youth program. As club member Rolley Tickner explains, “It’s about building the community up. We run a lot of social rides, and they’re all a little bit different – not everything has to be serious riding.”

2025 was a big year for Rocky MTB, given the extensive damage from severe rain events. Volunteers spent 1000 hours trying to keep the trails maintained. Rocky MTB also had Stanwell Corp donating $33,000 to rebuild the green flow trail Whipsnake, and thanks to ongoing support from donations and businesses they could engage a local builder for ongoing trail maintenance or rebuild works.

For those looking for airtime, the popular jump line Dirtclowns has also been rebuilt by local builder CQ Mini Excavations.

The importance of volunteers

Maintaining a trail network the size of First Turkey is no small task, particularly in a region prone to heavy rain and extreme weather. The club relies on volunteers to keep trails safe and rideable, prioritising the most popular routes and responding quickly after major weather events. Their Facebook page has regular updates about conditions, trail closures, working bees and of course – rides.

“Primarily it’s volunteer-based,” Stevens says. “We go in with a purpose. We’ll run working bees focused on the most popular trails and what needs attention after weather or heavy use.”

Those working bees aren’t just about shovels and rakes. The club has been actively looking for new ways to involve people who can’t make traditional weekend sessions. “There’s only a finite number of people that are willing or able to turn up,” Stevens explains. “So we’re looking at reaching out to other community groups.”

Importantly, the club has found that giving people responsibility builds long-term commitment. “People like to have responsibility,” Stevens says. “They want ownership of stuff. If they feel like a trail is theirs, they’ll turn up for it.”

Trails as a regional opportunity

First Turkey is increasingly recognised as a regional asset, not just a local one. State-level events are now firmly on the calendar, bringing riders and spectators to Rockhampton and helping showcase the park’s potential.

“What that’s shown council is that we have the ability to run events of that scale,” Stevens says. “And that’s sparked a bit more interest in what this place can be.”

The park’s location is a major advantage. “It’s not a 10-minute drive, or a 20-minute drive to get here,  you can ride to the trail from the centre of town,” Stevens says. That accessibility makes First Turkey valuable for locals and appealing for visitors looking for a rideable, stay-and-play destination.

With the Queensland Government pushing regional and eco-tourism as part of a Queensland 2045 campaign – the work that Rockhampton MTB Club has undertaken over decades may just be a perfect example of how a community can create a nationally significant outdoor recreation attraction, while still benefitting from it themselves.

People matter

One of the most important lessons from Rockhampton is that there’s no special formula or hidden advantage at play. Progress has come from people: strong leadership, skilled volunteers and a willingness to keep building momentum.

“It’s definitely people,” Tickner says. “There’s always been great leaders and a lot of passion for mountain biking. When those things mix together, people feed off each other and it generates a lot of goodwill.”

Local businesses also play a critical supporting role, helping cover everyday costs such as tools, fuel and consumables. While council support has improved in recent years, particularly around approvals, the club remains largely self-driven.

First Turkey into the future

To move from incremental improvements to long-term impact, the Rockhampton MTB Club has developed a master plan for First Turkey. This isn’t just about new trails; it’s about embedding mountain biking into broader regional planning.

“We had to put a master plan in place,” Stevens says. “If a club wants to build and get bigger and better, that plan needs to be embedded in the strategic intent of council.”

A central part of that vision is a proper trailhead, with toilets, change rooms, skills areas and space for families and beginners. “That’s a huge ticket item,” Stevens says. “It’s not just for mountain bikers, it should be a community hub.”

Facilities like these help address equity and access, making it easier for women, kids, new riders and visiting families to use the park comfortably and confidently.

Another potential project in the region is the Yeppoon to Rockhampton rail trail – a foundational piece of riding infrastructure that assists active transport planning but can also attract a greater tourism base.

First Turkey Mountain Bike Park shows what’s possible when community, planning and persistence come together. It’s proof that regional trail networks don’t need to wait for perfect conditions to thrive.