Council supports mountain bike precinct

Cessnock City Council unanimously supported ‘The Precinct’ Mountain Bike Park Project at Wednesday’s Council meeting and endorsed the lodgement of a grant application under the NSW Government’s Regional Communities Development Fund.  

The proposed site for ‘The Precinct’ covers 385 hectares of land to the eastern side of Cessnock which has previously been a hotspot for criminal activity, illegal dumping and other antisocial behaviour.  

The project is a collaborative effort between Council, Cessnock Police and Crown Lands with the support of a number of local organisations. The group collectively put forward the project to serve as a strategy to divert youth crime and improve the wellbeing of residents. From a tourism perspective, it will also form part of a network of trails connecting Newcastle to the Pokolbin Wine District.  

‘The Precinct’ could become home to an extensive network of mountain bike trails, cross country running clubs, orienteering for local schools, native regeneration groups, Aboriginal history talks and trails, along with so much more.  

The social benefits of establishing ‘The Precinct’ include preventing obesity, curbing antisocial behaviour, creating an outlet for young people and providing an alternative to the issue of unlawful off-road motorbike use in the area.  

Cessnock City Mayor, Councillor Bob Pynsent said this project is a wonderful example of different organisations working together towards a common goal.  

“This is a project is a prime example of turning a negative situation into something really positive for our community and everyone involved should be very proud. It has been fantastic to see everyone working together on this and I truly hope we get a positive outcome out of the funding application.”  

Council will submit a funding application by Friday 12 October 2018 for the amount of $4 million under the NSW Government’s Regional Communities Development Fund.

 10/5/2018