The Inverell Mountain Bike Club has pleaded for new committee members to keep the organisation alive, but a lack of volunteers has now forced the closure of the town’s mountain bike park.
Inverell Shire Council has decided to temporarily close the Inverell Mountain Bike Track until a new club is found or the existing club becomes operational again.
Earlier this year, the club warned it could not continue without a committee, urging locals to step up and share what it described as a minimal workload, including basic administration, occasional maintenance support and helping at events. Despite the call for support, not enough people came forward.
Council later received formal advice from the club’s former treasurer confirming the organisation is now dormant, with no active events held since November 2024. The existing licence agreement between council and the club, which expired in July 2025, has not been renewed.
At its ordinary meeting on 25 March, council endorsed a series of actions aimed at ensuring public safety while exploring future management options for the facility.
Mayor Kate Dight said the decision was necessary given the current circumstances.
“The Mountain Bike Track has been a valued community asset, however without an active club to manage operations and maintenance, it is not feasible for Council to keep the facility open at this time,” she said.
The track, located on Old Bundarra Road, will remain closed while council installs signage advising the public that entry is prohibited and maintenance activities have ceased.
Council will now call for Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified organisations or clubs interested in taking over management of the facility. A further report will be presented following that process to determine the long-term future of the site.
Opened in 2016, the Inverell Mountain Bike Park features around seven kilometres of singletrack built by the local community. The trails are primarily cross-country, with a mix of beginner, intermediate and advanced sections, including rock gardens, downhill runs and technical features.
Recent upgrades in 2024 and 2025 added new features such as a progressive jump line, wooden structures and expanded skills areas. The park also includes a dedicated skills zone, pump track, picnic facilities and amenities.
Set on a granite hillside, the trails are generally rideable in most weather conditions, with only limited sections prone to mud. A three-kilometre connection track links the park back towards Inverell, allowing riders to extend their routes.
Council said it does not currently have the budget allocation required to assume full control of the facility.
Community groups, sporting organisations and other interested parties are being encouraged to consider submitting an Expression of Interest to manage the track into the future.
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