World-class mountain bike trails get the go-ahead
Only two hours from Sydney, Lithgow’s 25 kilometre mountain bike network now has development consent, clearing the way for one of the most exciting trail networks in New South Wales.
Lithgow Mountain Bike Trails DA Approved!
The Western Regional Planning Panel has approved Development Application DA170/25 (PPSWES-324), lodged by the Central Tablelands Mountain Bike Club Inc., for the construction and operation of a mountain bike park and ancillary facilities at the State Mine Heritage Park and through the State Mine Gully precinct, Lithgow.
After four years of planning, assessment and collaboration, the Club is celebrating an approval that marks a major milestone for a project that has navigated a complex planning and environmental assessment process involving multiple agencies, extensive technical studies and broad stakeholder engagement.
The consent unlocks approximately 25 kilometres of purpose-built bike and walking trails within the State Mine Gully precinct, commencing from the State Mine Heritage Park. Reachable within two hours from Sydney by road and served directly by passenger rail, the network will connect Lithgow’s town centre directly to the trails, encouraging riders to arrive in town, stay in town and spend in town.
The trail network will also play a key role in connecting Lithgow to some of Australia’s most spectacular natural landscapes, helping establish the city as a gateway to both the Gardens of Stone and Wollemi National Parks.
Designed by leading international mountain bike trail designers World Trail, the network will cater for everyone from first-time riders to experienced descenders.
The trails will provide new opportunities for outdoor recreation, nature-based tourism and community wellbeing while showcasing the region’s unique landscapes and heritage. For a town built on coal and steel, it represents a genuinely new chapter – transforming a former industrial landscape into a destination in its own right.
The Club acknowledged the support and cooperation of Lithgow City Council, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, State Mine Heritage Park, Crown Lands and the many specialist agencies that contributed to the assessment process.
Central Tablelands Mountain Bike Club President Craig Flynn said the approval was a significant day for Lithgow and everyone who had worked on the project over the past four years.
“The approval represents the successful outcome of a challenging and thorough planning process. We appreciate the constructive approach taken by Council, National Parks, the Planning Panel and all agencies involved in helping us reach this point,” Mr Flynn said.
“What excites us most is what comes next. These trails will strengthen Lithgow’s connection to the Gardens of Stone and Wollemi National Parks, creating new opportunities for visitors to explore our region and supporting Lithgow’s future as a gateway to these remarkable landscapes.
“This project is about creating a world-class outdoor experience that encourages people to stay longer, explore more of our region and discover everything Lithgow has to offer.”
The Lithgow Mountain Bike Park is a collaboration between the Central Tablelands Mountain Bike Club, Lithgow City Council, State Mine Heritage Park and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
PROJECT FACTS
The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government through the Growing Regions Program and the NSW Government through the Regional Tourism Activation Fund.
Trail network: Approximately 25km of bike and walking trails
Australian Government funding: $3,057,144 – Growing Regions Program
NSW Government funding: $3.5 million – Regional Tourism Activation Fund Round Two
Total project funding: $6,557,144 excluding GST
Planning and approvals: Approximately $1.6 million
Ecological assessment and biodiversity offsets: Approximately $900,000
DA documentation: More than 1,200 pages
Completion timeframe: Late 2027
