Outback tourism would be boosted by a council's plans to become a hot-spot for mountain bike riders, Robbie Katter said.
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The state KAP Leader and Traeger MP said Croydon Shire Council was powering ahead with its plans to build the $3 million Croydon Mountain Bike Trail Network.
The trail would involve the construction of nine loops with around 80km of trails, combined with a trail head close to Croydon township.
The tracks, varied in distance, would highlight the scenic, undulating country to the north of the town and would take in popular swimming and barra fishing spot Lake Belmore, considered locally as the aquatic jewel of the Gulf Savannah region.
Mr Katter said there was untapped eco-tourism potential in the North West, and he backed the project 100 per cent.
"This could expand on the growing activity of bike trails around Australia and so far it has generated interest from the right people in the State Government," Mr Katter said.
"I have had some good discussions with the Croydon council, who are very passionate, and have also taken a look at the track and can very much see the potential.
"Mayor Trevor Pickering said that after the detail designed works are completed this year, the Croydon community would be grateful for any support from the State and Federal Governments to make the proposal successful."
Mr Katter said he had also briefed Tourism Minister Kate Jones on the plans, and she was keen to learn more about it and was interested in offering support.
"This is a very positive step and I am confident we can get this project off the ground, possibly in stages until we get the full proposal completed," he said.
Mr Katter said the Croydon trail would be unlike any other in Australia.
"Croydon would be unique in that it has interesting topography with higher gradients and would be the farthest west to engage on this sort of exercise," he said.
"My vision would be that tourists from Cairns could be funnelled west. The town is on the Savannah Way, which just received a good chunk of federal roads funding, which will make travelling a lot better by road."
Other tourist attractions in the area include the Innot Hot Springs, Undara Lava Tubes and Cobbold Gorge, the Gulflander train and further west tourists often flock to Karumba and Lawn Hill Gorge Boodjamulla National Park in the winter months.
The proposed Croydon Mountain Bike Trail is predicted to attract around 5000 users per year, inject around $1 million annually into the local economy, and would create five additional jobs in the region.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
