Is it time for Hastings to have its own designated mountain bike park?

Some of you may say it already does at Eskdale on the other side of Napier. Yes this is a dedicated MTB park but for many, especially our youth, transport to and from the park that’s 30 kilometres away is a big issue.

Te Mata Park also has trails but there has been conflict between walkers and mountain bikers for many years. Many walkers feel that riders have come and invaded their territory with a “we were here first” mentality, while riders get equally frustrated at walkers and at loose dogs on their trails.

We now have new tracks appearing in other reserves in Havelock North and although it’s about time, we once again have conflict, with the tracks,which are being privately funded  now on put on hold by Hastings District Council.

As a local mtb club member told some walkers this week “we have as much right as you do to enjoy the reserves in Havelock North”.

There has been a huge increase in popularity of mtb riding, both in Hawke’s Bay but also across the globe. It’s a massive economic windfall for many villages and towns and it’s reported that the likes of popular skifield towns are now actually having more of an economic windfall in summer, not winter.

Derby in Tasmania, Australia has invested significantly in mtb infrastructure such as major trail networks, while a little closer to here the same is being seen in Nelson, Rotorua and Queenstown.

In Derby house prices have shot up since the development of its trails, and has quickly accelerated from a sleepy small town to mountain biking mecca.

Tourists also now flock to Derby, which now has over 25 times the amount of overnight visitors than permanent residents. About 200 people live in the town, but it has at least 33,000 visitors a year, with at least 5273 overnight visitors – all looking for accommodation, food, and services.

The local council estimates the economic impact of mountain biking on the region is between $15 and $18 million dollars. The 85 kilometres of trails was a council investment of $3.1 million.

With the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council being generously gifted some land behind on the coast side of Te Mata Peak, perhaps it’s now time to change up the conversation about a park offering the wide range of riding disciplines that attract young and old (or should I say more mature). Also if you didn’t know it more and more 60 year plus people are buying expensive e-bikes to ride on mtb trails.

The walking and trail running community may think a dedicated park is a good idea, but we would probably have to also convince mtbers of the same and that they commit to sticking to their park, instead of roaming in walking trail areas.

What do you think?