AusLeisure

The Latrobe and Kentish Councils in Tasmania's north-west have developed a business case for the Wild Mersey Mountain Bike Development, which proposes 100 kilometres of trails across the two municipalities.

The project also includes 40 kilometres of cross-country trails between Latrobe and Railton and a flying fox across the Mersey River.

It follows the opening last year of a $2.5 million mountain bike track at Derby in the state's north-east.

Latrobe Mayor Peter Freshney said the project was expected to inject more than $6 million into the local economy each year but could not go ahead without Federal and Tasmanian Government support.

Mayor Freshney told the ABC "for stage one (the councils) have contributed jointly $150,000 (and) we're looking for similar contributions from both federal and state for stage one.

"We're confident that if we can get stage one up and build momentum and interest for the additional stages we'll have some runs on the board in terms of the usage and return on investment."

The project is expected to create at least 12 jobs during construction and 60 ongoing full-time positions.

Mayor Freshney said both councils were optimistic the project's $4.1 million price tag could be reduced with community support, adding "there's an opportunity for volunteers and community groups to be involved.

"The $4.1 million is if we were to pay people to come in and build the track from scratch.

"The return on the investment is projected to be $7 million in the first year."

Mayor Freshney said he hoped to see the jobs boost come to fruition, concluding “we'd love to think that would be achievable especially with new businesses and existing business with additional staff.

"I think that expectation has been justified by what's happening in Derby in particular with the new businesses and growth of businesses in that one particular area."

Image courtesy of Heath Holden.

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