Category: Advocacy

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Advocacy

Gympie Council commits to rail trails

Bicycle Queensland has welcomed new funding to improve the Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail and extend the Mary Valley Rail Trail into Imbil.

Gympie Regional Council, with funding from the Queensland Government, will repair and improve a nine-kilometre section of the Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail (KKRT).

The works will restore important links along the trail, with new culverts, concrete riverbed crossings and erosion repairs, along with the replacement of 10 pedestrian gates with cattle grids to improve access. These changes will drastically improve the rider experience on the trail, and aid in rider safety.

BQ Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack said improving these sections would help realise the potential of a much bigger regional cycling route.

“The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail has the potential to form part of a nationally significant riding route stretching from Kilkivan all the way to Wulkuraka, by using the popular Link Trail and Brisbane Valley Rail Trail” Demack said. 

“The experience at the Gympie end of the KKRT has not matched what riders find in the South Burnett, so this investment is very welcome. Improving the surface, crossings and access will make the trail more inviting to a much wider range of riders and help communities along the route benefit from cycle tourism.”

Gympie Regional Council Mayor Glen Hartwig said the investment would improve the trail while supporting regional tourism.

“The Kilkivan to Kingaroy Rail Trail draws visitors from across Queensland and supporting local businesses along the way,” Mayor Hartwig said.

“This investment will restore sections of the trail that have deteriorated over time, making it safer, more accessible and more enjoyable for everyone who uses it.”

The funding will also support an approximately 500-metre extension of the existing Imbil to Brooloo section of the Mary Valley Rail Trail into Imbil town centre. This trail is popular with local residents and families, and the extension delivers a direct connection from the trail to Imbil’s shops, hospitality businesses, accommodation, community facilities and other attractions.

Bicycle Queensland sees both projects as examples of how targeted investment in existing trails can improve the riding experience while delivering wider benefits for regional communities.

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Advocacy

Riding e-bikes offroad in Queensland

There is some good news for Queensland e-bike riders following the introduction of new age and driver licence requirements on 31 August.

Riders of legal e-bikes are exempt from the new licensing and age requirements when riding at qualifying public mountain bike trails, rail trails and private recreational cycling facilities.

Importantly, these exemptions are broader than the list of riding locations currently published by the Queensland Government.

Bicycle Queensland Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack said riders should not assume a trail needs to appear on the Transport and Main Roads website to qualify.

“Many mountain bike trail networks owned by local governments and other Government agencies are not listed on the TMR site, but the legislation is quite clear that you can ride on public trails as long as there is a sign allowing bike use, somewhere on the trail network.”

The legislation specifically states that the places published by the Queensland Government do not limit the places to which the exemption applies.

For mountain bike trails, the legislation defines eligible trails or trail networks as being open to the public, having recreational bicycle riding as one of their main uses, being on relevant government-managed land, and being identified as a mountain bike trail by signage on or at an entrance to the trail, or at least one trail within a network.

Rail trails are also covered by the exemption where they meet the definition contained in the legislation and are identified as a rail trail by signage.

As Andrew explains:

“Riding your EN15194 legal e-mountain bike on recognised public mountain bike trails and rail trails is exempt from the new legislation’s licensing and age requirements.”

The exemption does not mean other e-bike and road rules cease to apply. Riders must still use a legal e-bike and comply with the applicable riding rules, including helmet requirements and rules around riding near pedestrians.

The Queensland Government has published a list of recognised riding areas, but the legislation makes clear that this list is not exhaustive.

View the Queensland Government’s e-mobility riding areas and exemptions

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Advocacy

Wangetti Trail back on track

Far North Queensland’s next wave of trail development is gathering momentum, with construction underway on the next section of the Wangetti Trail between Ellis Beach and Wangetti.

Cairns-based World Trail has been appointed to deliver the approximately 22km section, backed by more than $31 million from the Queensland Government. It follows the opening of the Palm Cove to Ellis Beach section in September 2024, which has already attracted more than 19,000 visitors.

Once complete, the Wangetti Trail will provide a 94km dual-use walking and mountain biking experience between Palm Cove and Port Douglas, taking riders and walkers through some of Tropical North Queensland’s spectacular coastal and rainforest landscapes.

For Bicycle Queensland, the renewed progress is particularly exciting when viewed alongside the wider investment occurring across the region.

In August, the Queensland Government unveiled the masterplan for the $15.5 million expansion of Smithfield Mountain Bike Park. Also designed by World Trail, it proposes more than 62km of new trails, growing Smithfield from around 25km to more than 85km of purpose-built riding.

Meanwhile, the Tropical North Queensland Regional Mountain Bike Strategy 2024–2034 provides a broader framework for developing and connecting riding destinations across Far North Queensland.

Together, these projects could represent the beginning of another major chapter for cycling and mountain biking in the region.

Cairns experienced a significant period of mountain bike investment and promotion through the Ride Cairns era and the international events held at Smithfield, culminating in the 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. That investment helped establish Tropical North Queensland as an internationally recognised riding destination.

Almost a decade later, the pieces are coming together for another step forward.

An expanded Smithfield provides a major trail hub close to Cairns. Wangetti adds a completely different multi-day coastal and rainforest experience linking Palm Cove and Port Douglas. Beyond those headline projects, the FNQ regional strategy provides a pathway for investment in trail networks and destinations across the wider region.

For locals, it means more places to ride. For visitors, it creates a much stronger reason to bring a bike, stay longer and explore more of Far North Queensland.

BQ welcomes the renewed progress on Wangetti and the growing recognition of cycling and mountain biking as important parts of the region’s recreation and tourism future.

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Advocacy

Reroutes for Barrambin development

The big build for Brisbane 2032 is getting underway, and bike riders travelling through the Barrambin Precinct/Victoria Park will need to readjust their routes as construction ramps up.

From September, work will be underway on both the new Brisbane Stadium and National Aquatic Centre, with significant areas of Victoria Park becoming construction sites. Early works on the Herston side include earthworks, haul roads, vegetation clearing, utility works and site fencing.

Importantly for riders, the existing bikeway through the park below Gregory Terrace will no longer provide the through-route many riders currently use.

Riders approaching from Herston will instead need to head from the Herston Land Bridge up to Gregory Terrace and adjust their journey from there.

The construction notice also confirms a new shared user path will be built adjacent to Gilchrist Avenue for a future diversion, with further information to come before it opens.

With the Barrambin Precinct set to change considerably in the lead-up to Brisbane 2032, BQ encourages regular users to familiarise themselves with the changed access arrangements, allow a little extra time and take care as new routes and diversions come into effect.

More details are available online.

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Advocacy

Smithfield MTB trails set to grow

Bicycle Queensland has welcomed plans for the biggest expansion in the history of Smithfield Mountain Bike Park, with more than 62 kilometres of new trails set to reinforce Cairns’ position as one of Australia’s core mountain bike destinations.

The Queensland Government has unveiled the Smithfield Mountain Bike Park Expansion Masterplan, designed by World Trail, which will grow the existing network from around 25 kilometres to more than 85 kilometres, securing Smithfield on the ‘must ride’ mountain bike map.

Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and be completed by late 2028, with the expanded network forecast to attract more than 53,000 riders annually.

Source: Tropical North Queensland

For mountain bikers, Smithfield needs little introduction. The rainforest-clad hills north of Cairns have been at the heart of Australian mountain biking for more than three decades. Smithfield has hosted UCI Mountain Bike World Cups and World Championships, along with recent editions of Crankworx Cairns. Of course, Smithfield’s roots cannot be confined to between the tape.

In the 1990s, Cairns riders and trail builders helped forge a distinctly Australian bike culture. Films such as Mud Cows and features on shows like Pepsi Max Extremists took the riding, characters and trails of Far North Queensland to riders around Australia and the world. Features including the Alien Tree, Jacobs Ladder, Croc Slide and the infamous Bowl of Death became part of Australian mountain biking folklore – and the majority of those features still exist in the trails. Although Jacobs Ladder became a descent and you might need a machete and some local knowledge to find the Bowl of Death.

Source: Wade Lewis

Cairns and Far North Queensland has changed in many ways since the 90s. However the mountain bike culture remains very much alive today, having expanded into a much wider community.

The Smithfield masterplan includes new beginner, intermediate and advanced trails to suit the expansion of mountain bike popularity and use since the 90s. There are upgraded trailheads and visitor facilities, improved event infrastructure, signage and safety measures, along with a long-term framework for sustainable trail management – an essential element for an area with such high rainfall.

BQ strongly supports investment in quality off-road cycling infrastructure across regional Queensland. Well-planned mountain bike networks provide accessible outdoor recreation for local communities while also creating destinations capable of attracting visitors, events and spending into regional economies.

Smithfield is an exceptional example because its reputation already extends around the world. Expanding the network gives Cairns an opportunity to build on more than 30 years of mountain biking history while creating a trail network suited to a much broader range of riders.

That said, Smithfield should not be an isolated example. BQ believes that targeted investment in mountain biking can support healthier communities, give young people places to ride, strengthen regional tourism and create new economic activity.

The recent Smithfield announcement demonstrates what is possible when governments recognise cycling infrastructure not simply as trails in the bush, but as long-term investment in the health and vitality of Queensland communities.

“Getting your kids on a mountain bike is pretty much the best thing any parent can do,” BQ Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack said.

“Mountain biking makes you much fitter, and improves strength and hand-eye co-ordination.

“There’s even research which shows that teenagers who are involved in mountain biking develop stronger social and emotional intelligence as a result.

“And the best bit: it’s amazing fun. I can’t wait to get back to Smithfield to ride these trails when they are done.”

You can look at the complete Smithfield Master Plan online.

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Advocacy

BQ’s advocacy priorities for Barrambin precinct

Bicycle Queensland is collaborating with Brisbane-based bicycle user groups (BUGs) on a co-ordinated approach to ensuring best outcomes for the Barrambin/Victoria Park precinct, both in the lead-up the Olympics and then into the future. 

The Brisbane Games construction authority (GIICA) has released a draft precinct plan, which shows plenty of positive aspects for cycling and walking. However, many of the details around path widths, the separation of bikeways from pedestrian and motorised traffic, and bike parking at the stadium itself, is hard to determine. BQ met with all the local BUGs to workshop the issues and what collectively we should be fighting for.  

The North Brisbane Bikeway is now proposed as a separated facility alongside Gregory Terrace and Bowen Bridge Rd, before continuing as it currently does through Bowen Park. BQ and the BUGs are particularly concerned about the width available for a bikeway between Bowen Bridge Rd and the Old Museum, and on the bridge crossing the railway line, along this new alignment.  

The Gregory Terrace route should be helpful considering the disruption that stadium construction and the Olympics will cause to the bikeway’s current location through Yorks Hollow and beside Gilchrist Ave. However, cycling advocates are keen to pursue building both routes, to add resilience into the bikeway network, and to also connect with Herston Rd and Aberleigh Rd towards Enoggera Creek. 

The draft plan makes no clear reference to bike parking at the new stadium. BQ CEO Dr Matt Burke said: “International best-practice design for a modern stadium includes a secure bike parking facility for at least 500 bikes”.  

Paris had bike parking at their main stadiums, so did London. Many of the US World Cup stadiums provided it. It’s an essential part of downtown stadium design in the 21st century.  

Other topline areas that BQ and the BUGs will push for include: 

  • Ensuring that bikeways built through these precincts are separated facilities. 
  • Ensuring a quality active transport connection towards Fortitude Valley along Brunswick St or a parallel corridor. The athlete’s village’s placement at the Ekka grounds means that other railway stations, including Fortitude Valley, will need to carry massive numbers of stadium patrons. 
  • The North Brisbane Bikeway’s long-term alignment should move away from the heritage-listed trees of Bowen Park and be re-aligned along the edge of the Ekka grounds, as part of the Athlete’s Village planning. 

Dr Burke said: “We will be approaching our advocacy to GIICA as a unified cycling community, speaking as one voice with the Brisbane-area bicycle user groups. We’re all here to work constructively to find good solutions.” 

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Advocacy

Sylvan Road bikeway fills missing link

After more than two decades of advocacy, one of Brisbane’s busiest and most important cycling connections is set for a major safety upgrade, with plans confirmed for a continuous, separated bikeway along Sylvan Road in Toowong. 

Brisbane City Council has announced the final concept for the Sylvan Road Bikeway, which will create a continuous bi-directional bikeway separated from both car traffic and pedestrians between the Western Freeway Bikeway and Bicentennial Bikeway. 

The project will address a long-standing missing link in Brisbane’s western cycling network, providing a safer and more direct connection through Toowong for thousands of people travelling towards the CBD and surrounding suburbs. 

Bicycle Queensland CEO Dr Matthew Burke said the announcement was a significant milestone after decades of calls to improve safety along the corridor. 

“Bicycle Queensland and local bicycle user groups have been advocating for the Sylvan Road bikeway for at least 25 years. It’s one of the most-used bicycle routes into the city,” Dr Burke said. 

“We’re delighted with the proposed designs. There will be much more road safety for everyone in the corridor. Well done to the Council teams involved.” 

The final concept follows community consultation, where safety emerged as a key concern, particularly at intersections and on sections of Sylvan Road where bike riders currently travel close to motor vehicles. 

The proposed design includes physical separation from traffic along the corridor, upgrades to key intersections and improved connections to surrounding neighbourhoods, parks, public transport and local businesses. 

The upgrade will connect the Western Freeway Bikeway directly with the Bicentennial Bikeway, removing one of the most significant gaps on the route between Brisbane’s western suburbs and the CBD. 

“For the first time ever, you’ll be able to ride from the Centenary suburbs through the city centre entirely on safe, protected bicycle infrastructure, with little risk from cars,” Dr Burke said.  

The bikeway design is now being refined using community feedback and technical requirements, with Brisbane City Council expected to release the final concept design and further consultation findings soon. 

The announcement represents an important step towards a better-connected network where protected infrastructure makes riding a realistic transport choice for more Queenslanders. 

After 25 years of advocacy, closing the Sylvan Road gap is finally within sight. 

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Advocacy

National Active Transport Fund opens for new projects

Queensland councils have another opportunity to secure funding for safer bike riding and walking infrastructure, with the Federal Government opening applications for the next round of the National Active Transport Fund.

The program will make $90.2 million available for projects in 2026–27 as part of the Federal Government’s $500 million Active Transport Fund. Following overwhelming demand in the inaugural round, councils across the country are expected to once again compete strongly for funding that delivers safer, more connected communities.

We urge Queensland councils to put forward their shovel-ready projects to this granting scheme. The previous funding round attracted more than $430 million in applications for just $100 million in available funding, highlighting the strong demand for investment in projects that make it easier for people to ride and walk for everyday trips, and the fact that there is a long way to go to provide safe active transport infrastructure around the state and country. Projects such as Sylvan Road bikeway in Toowong, an active transport bridge in Dayboro and numerous walking paths have had funding committed so far.

Projects funded through the program focus on the construction or upgrade of bicycle and walking paths associated with public roads, helping create safer routes for transport, recreation and tourism while reducing congestion and supporting healthier communities.

Bicycle Queensland notes that this is a competitive process, and Councils that don’t bid for the funding will simply miss out.

“Bike riding is good for your waistline, for your wallet and it’s simply good for the world,” said Director of Advocacy Andrew Demack. 

“Councils across Queensland already know this, and here is an opportunity to provide more safe bike riding for the people of your community. It’s a no brainer.”

Bicycle Queensland welcomes the continued investment in active transport and encourages Queensland councils to put forward planned projects that improve connectivity and remove barriers to riding.

More details on the Active Transport Fund are online.