Shire seeks bike trail comments

The public has until Monday to submit their comments on a mountain bike trail feasibility study survey for Narrogin.

The survey, which can be found on the Shire of Narrogin website, is gauging the community’s desire for an official mountain bike and pump track to be established within the shire.

Common Ground Trails staff, a specialist design consultant company, will also be at Narrogin Coles today between 3pm and 6pm for an in-person survey for the project.

Shire chief executive Dale Stewart said a draft plan for both a mountain bike trail and pump track is expected to face council in June.

“The Shire has engaged Common Ground Trails in designing and consulting with communities about both mountain bike tracks and pump tracks,” he said.

“The Shire is keen to explore the concept of developing a mountain bike track in close proximity to the townsite of Narrogin, possibly in allocations such as Foxes Lair.”

Resident Michael Chin said official and “polished” tracks would attract visitors to town.

“It would bring short-term stayers, reasons for dads to bring their families,” he said. “(An) official trail would just make Narrogin a much more attractive place for short-term and day visitors.”

Mr Chin said if the trails went ahead, the town could capitalise on the cycling community’s tourism market. “The bike community would say ‘Let’s try that place because we’ve never been there before’,” he said.