Wow! Holy flying fox batman. Cairns and the Tablelands ooze MTB potential on all fronts. As you may know Cairns was the site of the 1996 World MTB Championships and while the legacy has never lived up to the visions of the organisers of that iconic event, there is certainly some momentum to get Cairns back on the MTB map now.

It has begun; Nick and Joey are on the road conducting trail workshops in 5 locations across Australia to promote sustainable mountain bike management, tourism and recreation.

Escapegoat Adventures, a South Australian MTB Tour Company, has successfully obtained approval to take guided tours on one of the Mt Lofty Ranges (Adelaide) iconic fire tracks. This approval is unprecedented in SA as access to Cleland National Park on Bikes has always been off limits. While the tour is held on some well groomed fire tracks, the vertical drop is significant and riders will enjoy the some fantastic views, local wildlife and the MTB experience.

On Monday the 15th, Tony Scott and I met with Parks Vic Strategic Planners and Staff.

The meeting was very positive and focused on the means and methods that are required to provide legal MTB access in the Parks around Melbourne. As with all our cities, the open spaces that are closer to metro areas are the ones where illegal MTB trail construction and user conflicts are the most contentious issues.

IMBA Australia is travelling to WA to assist the Cape Mountain Bikers in Dunsborough and the Shire of Busselton to review existing trails in Meelup Regional Park. This review of existing trails will facilitate the development of a Trails Master Plan for the Park, whereby new trail proposals and trail closures will be put forward for community comment. The partnership between the local riders and the Shire Council is an excellent example of how trail develoment can proceed in both regional and urban areas.

Joey Klein will return to Australia for a series of workshops around the country in April 2010. The intention of these workshops is to develop partnerships with state agencies and key land managers by providing insight and training in the most effective and sustainable methods for managing MTB in Australia's Parks and Reserves. IMBA Australia wants to work with Rangers and Park Staff, be it in National Parks, Forests or Local Councls, to create high quality trails and encourage the formation of "Trail Care Crews" to help maintain trails well into the future.