Mogo Trails

Project: Adventure trail hub planning for Mogo and surrounds.

Funding: The project will be built using a $5 million grant from the NSW and Australian governments’ Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and a $3 million grant from the NSW Government’s Growing Local Economies Fund.

Timeframe: April 2019 - June 2023

Last updated: January 2023

Details

We are working to:

  • plan and build an adventure trail hub in the Mogo area.

Benefits to the community:

  • increase in tourism-related business opportunities, particularly in off peak times
  • increase in overnight stays
  • improved reputation for Mogo (and the Eurobodalla) as a tourist destination with many diverse experiences
  • increased opportunity for tourists and locals alike to immerse themselves in nature.

Nature-based tourism, such as adventure trail experiences, is a rapidly growing industry in NSW.

The Eurobodalla Destination Action Plan illustrates that for the year ending September 2017, NSW received nearly 28.3 million international and domestic overnight nature-based visitors who spent almost 129 million nights in NSW. Nature-based visitors accounted for 84% of international visitors to NSW, 37% of domestic overnight visitors and 23% of day trip visitors.

Eurobodalla is renowned for its natural environment. The region has a number of trails that weave through bushland, creeks, wetlands and rainforests. These informal trails offer potential to develop adventure trail tourism.

Trail locations

Council and Rocky Trail Destination have been preparing the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the trail network.

A REF is required before a permit will be issued from Forestry the trail network. This has raised some unique challenges due to the large footprint of the network. A final map of the trail network will be published on acceptance of the REF.

Trail heads are planned across the network at four locations.

Council estimates an average of 10 to15 riders per day accessing the trails from this trail head. This trail access will be formalised to ensure it meets international standards. Works will be low impact involving clearing the ground of any fallen trees or other debris. Formalisation will also manage water crossings to avoid erosion.  The two-way trail will be approximately two metres wide. The access point will have a barrier to slow cyclists before the roadway. Council is also planning to make the end of the Curtis Road area no parking.

Discrete wayfinding signage will be installed Batehaven and Curtis Road trail head. Further signage will inform riders of traffic in the area and the need to follow all road rules.

For Deep Creek Dam network access there will be a trail head located at the corner of James Street and Annett Street. Riders will travel along the James Street Road reserve north before accessing the Mogo State Forest.

The trail head will include trail information and safety signage.

The Mogo Street parking will be extended to provide extra carparks. The trail head location will be on the southern side of the recreation park, next to Buckenbowra Road. This trail head will include trail information signage and access to trails.

The existing Maulbrooks Road trail head will be formalised.

This trail head will be a secondary trail head. It will include approximately 25 parking spaces, trail and safety signage. A pit style toilet is also planned for the trail head.

A trail head will be established near the Botanic Gardens at Deep Creek Dam. This trail will provide central access to the network east of the Princes Highway.

Project updates

January 2023

  • A major project milestone has been reached allowing construction crews to get started. The Review of Environmental Factors was approved this week by Forestry Corporation NSW.
  • The Next Level MTB team are arriving to begin construction from mid-January. Council asks interested community members to respect all safety signage and keep clear of work crews. Please stay off all freshly built trails until officially opened. All project enquires should be directed to Council.
  • Mogo Trails is due for completion mid-2024.

November 2022

  • Rocky Trail Destination completed the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and submitted it to Forestry Corporation (Forestry) for assessment. Once approved, the trail builders will mobilise for construction. Next Level Mountain Bike will commence construction approximately five weeks after REF approval (weather permitting).
  • Council started planning Mogo Recreation Park. Council is working closely with the Mogo Village Business Chamber for delivery of a pump track and a new community facility. The Mogo Village Business Chamber is finalising pre-construction activities.
  • Members of the local riding community established the Batemans Bay Mountain Bike Club. Council is developing a website and information can be found by searching 'Batemans Bay Mountain Bike Club' on Facebook.

January 2022

  • Rocky Trail Destination and Next Level Mountain Bike are working with Forestry and Council to narrow down the trail corridors. The construction team will start walking the proposed corridors this month to assess the landscape for the final track alignment.
  • Council and Forestry will soon review the final design, which will then be used to progress environmental and cultural approvals. Ongoing trail refinement will continue until we’re ready to break ground – we’re aiming to get started on construction in March 2022.
  • Next Level Mountain Bike has been busy planning its work crews and procuring equipment to get ready for the trails construction and machinery is set to arrive in Mogo in the new year.

September 2021

  • Council awarded the detailed design, construction and maintenance contract for the Mogo Trails to Rocky Trail Destination and Next Level Mountain Bike.
  • The brand name 'Mogo Trails' was adopted.

June 2021

  • Council was successful in attracting $5 million under Stage Two of the joint NSW and Australian Governments’ Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. This new funding allows us to not only complete the 150 kilometres of trails, but also means we can extend the project on the south side of Mogo and add amenities.

December 2020

October 2020

  • Mogo Adventure Trail Hub Project awarded $3 million NSW Government funding through the Growing Local Economies Fund.

September 2020

  • Council endorsed the draft Mogo Adventure Trails Hub Masterplan for public exhibition.
  • The draft masterplan was on exhibition for community feedback from Thursday 10 September to Monday 19 October 2020.

February 2020

  • Council appointed specialist consultants Dirt Art to begin preparing the masterplan.

August 2019

May 2019

  • Council engaged specialist consultants TRC Tourism to begin preparing the strategy.
  • Council and TRC Tourism facilitated two stakeholder workshops at the Moruya Golf Club. The workshops were aimed at understanding the issues and opportunities of a trail hub surrounding Mogo and attracted a diverse range of trails users and key stakeholders.

More information

For more information about the Mogo Trails, please contact Council's Project Officer, Shane Spicer, on: