Northern Rivers Rail Trail launches business Connect Program

Goodie! ‘Mum Jane’ has discernibly noticed how studious and busy I am, and asked me ‘Leems my boy, what on earth are you writing on that big notepad that’s taking you so long? You’ll get ‘paw-cramp’ syndrome.’ (It’s Leemo Cat here) Crikey, I ‘spose I’d better tell her. ‘Well ‘Mumsie Wumsie my Precious’, Christmas will be here soon, and there are many things I really do so want. Therefore, I’m starting my list early to help you get organised. Gottit?’ Mum spoke. ‘Leems, cut the suck-up crapp please; I simply cannot abide it. You either address me properly or not at all.’ It crossed my thoughts that her frame of mind DID NOT bode well for my LIST. Hmmm? Oh NO, she kept talking. ‘Leems, I urge you strongly to listen closely to what I have to say ref. your Christmas

List expectations, ‘cos the rules have changed appreciably since last year. Gottit?’ (OMG, I’m getting a bad feeling, aaargh!) On she droned. ‘With the cost of living the way it is, please adhere to these guidelines when writing your fnal list, keeping frst & foremost in mind Leems, our Aged Pensioner Budget. Gottit?

FIRSTLY, anything on your list must come under the TRUE meaning of A NEED…in other words, something that is totally essential for you to live and function

‘OK Leems, show me the list you have prepared and I shall decide on whether any of the items listed fall under the umbrella of the new rules I’ve clearly outlined. (If I’ve ever had a huge desire to bite Mum Jane’s ankles on the hurty part it is now. She is, much to my dismay, wearing boots.) I handed over my list, & she asked for a cup of tea whilst she read it. My paws shook when I delivered her tea (whilst secretly wishing I could fnd some Castor Oil to pop into her Koala cup) which she accepted with a ‘raised eyebrows’ acknowledgement. After a most uneasy wait, I was told to SIT AND LISTEN. ‘OK Leems, I’ve read through your list, and hold uncertainty about you sticking to the rules. Could you explain to me how needful or functional in your life a small ‘Electric Vehicle for Cats’ might be? You don’t have a Licence? And more, how needful or functional might ‘Surfng Lessons & a Champagne Breakfast Hot Air Balloon Ride’ with my Buddies’ be? Your request for a ‘Fur Lined Litter Tray’ is quite beyond the pale. Frankly, I suggest you discard this list and start a new one, beginning with the concept; “Is what I’m asking for NEEDFUL or FUNCTIONAL” to my life, then bring your new and enlightened list back to me. OK?’ Well, I tell you, I’m outta here to go climb a tree. Nite with disheartened purrsies. Leemo.

Tweed Shire Council is inviting businesses and commercial operators to share in the success of the popular Northern Rivers Rail Trail (Tweed section) and sign up to its new Connect Program.

Trail.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said the Connect framework would not only offer a smart and affordable link to the Rail Trail for businesses but would provide an important revenue stream for to bolster our long-term future.”

The Connect Program caters for three business needs – commercial operations, marketing and signage – and is a way for adjacent landowners, businesses and tourism operators to and map listings to social media exposure.

3. The Signage Program: available to Marketing Program members, the signage program provides opportunities for exclusive on-trail signage options and sizes within the rail corridor.

“Six months on from opening the Rail Trail, we are pleased to now be able to launch the Connect Program,” Cr Cherry said.

Launched today, the Connect Program is designed to connect commercial operators and businesses to the award-winning Rail Trail which opened in March. Figures show more than 70,000 people used the Rail Trail in the frst four months of operation, with projections indicating it will attract more than 150,000 users and guests annually.

The Connect Program will enable business partners to highlight their guest experience offerings, focusing on the ways users can taste, stay, move, explore and enjoy along the Rail

Council to contribute to the ongoing operation and maintenance costs of the Rail Trail.

“The Connect Program provides great value and is a fair and open framework to ensure those benefting from commercial gain from the Rail Trail also contribute to its maintenance, while receiving a wide range of business benefts to promote their experience or service to Rail Trail guests,” Cr Cherry said.

“This is all about supporting our local economy to thrive by generating sustainable economic opportunities access potential visitors to the Rail Trail.

The Connect Program features:

1. The Rail Trail Pass: an affordable annual fee and other charges for commercial operators undertaking business and activities on and in association with the Rail Trail.

2. The Marketing Program: a tiered program offering a range of cooperative marketing opportunities with affordable gold, silver and bronze entry points to suit all budgets and marketing goals. This offers a wide range of benefts from website

“This will see us move into an exciting operational phase to facilitate collaboration with commercial businesses to help us truly unlock the potential for sustainable experiences that stretch across the Tweed. This not only benefts our local businesses but also enriches the overall trail experience for visitors to the region.

“Our goal is to develop and support a thriving community of operators who are wholeheartedly committed to growing the Northern Rivers Rail Trail. Through collaboration and innovation, we’re shaping an exciting future for our region.”

If you offer guest experiences, services or products in categories like Taste, Stay, Move, Explore or Enjoy, we want to hear from you! For more information or to join the Connect Program visit the Northern Rivers Rail Trail website.

By Sarah Waters

It is estimated more than 4000 people have used the park since it opened just under six weeks ago on August 19.

Tweed Council’s manager of parks and active communities Murray Smith said on the weekend, about 100 riders are on the track at any time.

“So far we know biking enthusiasts from as far afeld as Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast have travelled to the park and we expect it to continue to attract visitors from outside the area,” Mr Smith said.

“We are excited by the enthusiasm and excellent feedback we have received from the mountain bike community and local residents so far with business understood to be booming in the nearby village of Uki,” he said.

Final preparations are underway for the offcial opening of Uki Mountain Bike Park, on Saturday, October 7, with new trail markers, park maps and a water fll station being installed.

The event is a sell-out with the 120 available tickets snapped up within hours.

It will mark Tweed’s frst offcial mountain bike park and pump track, which has been 10 years in the making.

The Tweed Valley Mountain Bike Riders club played a signifcant role in the park’s establishment.

Members of the club helped to source funding with a $430,000 grant awarded through the NSW Offce of Sport.

They also helped with tree planting and rehabilitation of the site.

Club president Hugh Flower said the new park was a fantastic asset to mountain bikers and the wider community.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be part of this project and see it come to fruition,” Mr Flower said.

“This will be a huge drawcard for local mountain bike enthusiasts, as well as visitors to the region.

“The facility will be a great outdoor space for everyone to get involved and for new riders to try the sport, providing more opportunities for kids in the Tweed to get outside and get active,” he said.

Tweed Shire Council, in partnership with Tweed Valley Mountain Bike Riders, engaged outdoor trail design and construction specialists

Trailworx to build the mountain bike trails on council-owned land next to the Uki Wastewater Treatment Plant at Uki.

The park features 6.4kms of track across eight mountain bike trails including one climbing and seven descending trails.

The tracks are made up of four green trails (beginner), three blue trails (more diffcult) and one black diamond trail (very diffcult).

A pump track has also been designed to suit children aged 5 - 12 years old.

Uki Mountain Bike Park is open to mountain bikers of all ages and abilities. It is located at 165 Smiths Creek Road, near Uki.

Entry to the park is free. It is open from 6am to 6pm daily.

Users of the park are advised it may close at any time due to weather conditions (rain, wet or muddy tracks, high winds, fre danger).

Future concept plans for the site include shade structures, seating and tables, landscaping, pathways, and permanent toilet facilities. Find out more at tweed.nsw.gov.au/ mountain-biking.

By Sarah Waters

The Uki Mountain Bike Park has generated its own host of publicity since it unofficially opened its gates on August 19.

Apart from a large eastern brown snake which was recently found on the track by former pro surfer Joel Parkinson, the new park has received high praise.

Mountain bike enthusiast and YouTuber JohnnyThe_G has given the track a big thumbs up stating it was the best mountain bike jumps trail he’d ridden.

Taking viewers on his ride through the black (advanced) trail he commented on the size of the jumps.

“It’s time to hit these huge jumps on the black trail … let’s try and get a full run down the whole trail,” he said.

“After these top four

(jumps) I haven’t seen what’s further down, I assume the jumps get smaller, but as you’ll see they definitely don’t.

“Although the hill isn’t huge, they have done an incredible job keeping this place as flowy as it is, it works so well, the jumps are all amazing.

“Seeing all the riders flying down the hill across all the trails is just so sick – this open area is just so different to what we’re all used to seeing.

“The dirt is just perfect also - you can really rip into all the corners and trust your tyres.

“This place is basically just a big, downhill pump track and I couldn’t recommend riding here anymore.”

Fellow mountain bikers have shared their experiences of the park via Facebook and echoed the same thoughts.

With riders commenting ‘this new bike park is so good’ and ‘it’s so good to see so many out there enjoying it.’

Another Facebook user said it was ‘a great asset to a hugely underrated and underutilised part of NSW. It Looks amazing and well done on creating a healthy and fun outlet for the community and adding value for tourism’.