NEWS
Monday 7th June 2010
Punishment served: the inaugural Capital Punishment MTB Enduro turns into a mud fest!
World Solo 24 Hour Champion Jason English has taken out the prestigious Men’s
100km Elite title at the inaugural Capital Punishment mountain bike endurance
event held across Canberra on Saturday.
English, 27, overcame local hope Brent Miller in a time of 4:35:23. Local bike shop
team member Joel Ryan rounded up the podium arriving only 3 seconds after
Miller.
Despite facing cold temperatures and heavy rain that reduced parts of the course
to a muddy quagmire, over 1,500 riders took part in the largest mountain bike
endurance event of its kind staged in Australia, out of close to 2,000 entered.
Friday 9th April 2010
World mountain bike championships contributes almost $8 million to local economy
An analysis of the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships held last September at Stromlo Forest Park has revealed the event contributed $7.9 million to the ACT economy, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr announced.
“The UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships were a huge success for Canberra,” Mr Barr said. “An independent report by Ernst and Young found the event injected $7.9 million to the local economy.”
Click here for the World mountain bike Championships Post Event Report.
Thursday 8th April 2010
Rd 4 - Rocky Trail MTB GP Series – 4H+8H
The Rocky Trail MTB Grand Prix is back at Mt Stromlo on 20 November and we have added an 8 Hour racing option to the traditional 4 Hour event to keep things interesting! The Rocky Trail event centre will be buzzing with music and commentating action, hearty food, coffees & energy drinks will be on offer, and thanks to series supporters there will be heaps of prizes too! Read More...
Friday 19th February 2010
STROMLO FESTIVAL TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
Stromlo Forest Park will come alive this weekend with the commencement of the second annual
Stromlo Running Festival, Neale Guthrie, General Manager for Territory Venues and Events within
the Department of Territory and Municipal Services, announced today. The festival commences
today, Friday 19 February 2010, and will finish Sunday afternoon, 21 February 2010.
The ACT Government is again contributing $70,000 to the event, which combines elite invitational
races, mountain running, fun running, training sessions, guest lectures on health and fitness and
social events. Read more...
Tuesday 16th February 2010
GOVERNMENT TEAM RECOGNISED FOR CONTRIBUTION TO ACT CYCLING
The outstanding success of the 2009 World Mountain Bike Championships and Trails has been recognised as part of an award presented to the team at Territory Venues and Events (TVE) by the ACT Cycling Federation. Read more....
Friday 27th November 2009
UNIQUE RUNNING FESTIVAL LAUNCHED FOR ITS SECOND YEAR
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr today joined running great Robert de Castella to urge elite and recreational runners to participate in next year’s Stromlo Running Festival, to be held at Stromlo Forest Park from 19 to 21 February 2010. Read more...
Thursday 3rd September 2009
NEW TOURISM VENTURE, RIDE CANBERRA, SET TO ENTICE INTERSTATE AND INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN BIKERS TO CANBERRA
Ride Canberra, an exciting new tourism venture dedicated to attracting interstate and international mountain bike visitors to Canberra, will be launched today, Friday 4 September, at the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championship at Stromlo Forest Park. Read more...
Wednesday 5th August 2009
Canberra’s world championship preparations on track
Preparations are on track for the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships with the completion of the 7 kilometre cross-country track featuring ‘The Fang’. Read More...
Wednesday 29th July 2009
Roundtable to develop low-cost tourism accommodation
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Andrew Barr today hosted a roundtable of tourism industry and government representatives to review and develop plans to increase the amount of low-cost tourism accommodation in the ACT.
Monday 20 July 2009
New track unveiled
One of the world’s leading mountain bike track designers will unveil the 4X course to be used for this year’s UCI Mountain Bike & Trails World Championships. Canberra is lucky enough to have the largest mountain bike 4X course ever built in Australia (one of the largest in the world). This artificial hill makes use of more than 100,000 cubic meters of soil, and was designed and built by the world’s foremost authority on 4X, Glen Jacobs. Read More...
Tuesday 14 July 2009
Downhill course made even faster
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Andrew Barr, today inspected the revamped downhill
course at Stromlo Forest Park ahead of the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in
September. Read more...
Monday 6 July 2009
Head for the Mountain
Tickets have gone on sale today for the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships being hosted at Stromlo Forrest Park in Canberra 1-6 September. Read more...
CONSULTATION NOTICE
Stromlo Forest Park
Master Plan and Feasibility Study
The Department of Territory and Municipal Services has engaged architects Cox Humphries Moss and urban planners Parsons Brinckerhoff to deliver three interrelated projects for the potential future planning, development and operations of Stromlo Forest Park.
The project includes preparation of a Master Plan to guide the future growth of the Park. The project will also investigate the opportunity for commercial accommodation and a chairlift to the summit of Mount Stromlo.
A drop-in information session will held on Saturday 16 May 2009 at the Event Pavilion, Stromlo Forest Park, Uriarra Road, Stromlo from 9.30am until 3.30pm.
The drop-in session will discuss the objectives of the study. It will also provide an opportunity to gather information on current Park use and ideas for future development. These responses will be used to inform the preparation of the Master Plan.
For further information contact Lee McCourt, Parsons Brinckerhoff on 02 6281 9500.
Tuesday 30 June 2009
LOCAL RUNNING HERO HONOURED WITH OWN ROAD
Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Jon Stanhope, today officially named the entry road to Stromlo Forest Park after local running athlete, Dave McInnes, who spent countless hours training in the area.
“I am very proud to officially name the Dave McInnes Road at Stromlo Forest Park today,” Mr Stanhope said.
“Dave is one of our local sporting heroes and has achieved many accolades as an elite athlete.
“Dave was the ACT’s first international marathon runner competing in the USA, Canada and New Zealand from 1975 to 1978 as well as the first ACT runner to win an international marathon in Hamilton, New Zealand. Dave was also the winner of the first Canberra Times Fun Run in 1976.
“Dave spent many hours training, establishing the trails throughout Stromlo Pine Forest, now called Stromlo Forest Park. Acknowledging his contribution to local and Australian sport as well as his longstanding connection to Stromlo Forest Park, the ACT Cross Country Club named a 10 mile circuit “the McInnes 10” in his honour.
“Today we take the opportunity to again honour Dave’s connection to Stromlo and his achievements as a marathon runner on the world stage by officially naming the entry road into Stromlo Forest Park the Dave McInnes Road.
“Dave’s dedication and commitment to sport is one in which the Canberra community can be particularly proud.
The Chief Minister commemorated the road by unveiling the new roadside signage outlining Dave McInnes’ biography.
“Roadside signage has been installed to inform people to the official name of the entry road and to share Dave’s story with other users of Stromlo Forest Park,” Mr Stanhope said.
Stromlo Forest Park is a world class facility playing host to many national and international sporting events. Stromlo Forest Park boasts a purpose-built event pavilion, criterium cycling circuit, grass cross-country running track and mountain bike tracks. There are also trails suitable for use by horse riders, runners and bushwalkers, making it a complete complex.
The ACT Government invested approximately $2.78 million in the 2008/09 Budget to ensure the continued development of Stromlo Forest Park including a master plan for the venue which will guide future development on the site.
Friday 6 February 2009
'09 fine for sport in the act
2009 will be the biggest ever year for sporting events in the capital according to Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr. Read More...
21 January 2009
STROMLO FOREST PARK PARTNER WITH MULTIPLE TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION
Stromlo Forest Park today signed a sponsorship deal with Jared Rando, a multiple time National mountain bike champion, coinciding with the 2009 Australian MTB National Championships also being held at the Park this week. Read more...
WHITE-FRONTED CHATS AT STROMLO FOREST PARK
Amidst the activity of runners, joggers, cyclists, mountain bikers, and others, a small population of White-fronted Chats has taken up residence at Stromlo Forest Park. Read more...
10th November 2008
RUNNERS TO CONVERGE ON STROMLO FOR NEW FESTIVAL
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope today joined running great Robert de Castella to urge elite and recreational runners to participate in the inaugural Stromlo Running Festival, to be held at Stromlo Forest Park from 27 February to 1 March next year. Read more...
17th May 2008
EQUESTRIAN TRAILS OFFICIALLY OPEN AT STROMLO
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope will officially re-open the new Recreational Equestrian Trails at Stromlo Forest Park today. Read more...
6th May 2008
TOURISM, SPORT AND RECREATION FOR THE FUTURE
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Andrew Barr said the Stanhope Government’s 2008-2009 Budget provides an extra $20.5 million over four years to enhance Canberra’s sporting future, as well as attract more people to the National Capital. Read more...
3rd January 2008
STROMLO FOREST PARK’S FIRST YEAR A GREAT SUCCESS
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Andrew Barr, today said the first year of operation for Stromlo Forest Park has been a great success.
Mr Barr said the Stanhope Government invested $7.5 million to establish the Park following the bushfire's of 2003, and the result has been a great new sporting and recreational facility for the community.
“Stromlo Forest Park, spread over 400 hectares, includes a purpose-built event pavilion, a criterium cycling circuit, the newly opened Rob de Castella cross-country running track, a range of mountain bike tracks and equestrian trails,” Mr Barr said.
“The Park is the first of its type in Australia-possibly in the world. It has the capacity to host a range of major national and international events and the first year of operation has seen a number of large scale events including the SCOT 24 hour mountain bike race, the national mountain bike championships and the first annual Rob De Castella foot race.
“The ACT Government supported these events with an additional $1.6 million in the 2007/08 Budget to assist with the marketing and management of the Park.”
Mr Barr said he is looking forward to seeing the Park go from strength to strength over the coming years.
“2008 will see us hosting the world mountain bike and trials championships as well as the mountain bike world cup ahead of the World Mountain Bike Championships in 2009 – a major event that will attract more than 750 of the world’s top mountain bike riders, as well as 30 000 visitors from up to 40 countries,” he said.
“The Government will continue to grow and support the park and would like to see it utilised as not only a world-class sporting facility but also as a recreational facility for the wider ACT community.
“I urge all Canberran's to experience Stromlo Forest Park – whether it be as a bush walker, horse rider, bike rider or spectator– it is here for the whole community to enjoy.”
18th November 2007
ROBERT DE CASTELLA CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING TRACK OPENS
Local running star Martin Dent took out the inaugural Robert de Castella men’s invitational foot race at Stromlo Forest Park this morning, while rising women’s cross-country identity Lara Tamsett won the women’s invitational.
Dent won the 8km men’s elite event in a time of 23:33, while Tamsett completed the 8km women’s course in 28:42.
St Jude’s took out the primary award for the most participants in the schools event, and St Clare’s the high school award.
The races were the first to be run on the brand-new Robert De Castella Cross-Country Running Track, which was officially opened today by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.
The purpose-built groomed grass circuit comprises a 2.5km loop that can be reduced to 2km, 1.5km or 1km, enabling multiple-lap configurations covering various distances.
The track sets a new benchmark for cross-country running in Australia and will cater to all levels of runners from schoolchildren to international athletes.
The official launch of the running track today continues the development of the $7.5 million Stromlo Forest Park into a world-class recreational and competition facility for bike riders, runners and horse riders. The Park will play host to a mountain bike world cup event next year and the mountain bike world championships in 2009.
13th October 2007
Stromlo Forest Park plays host to 24-Hour Mountain Bike Championships
More than 2500 cyclists from around Australia, as well as international riders, converge on Stromlo Forest Park today for the SCOTT Australian 24-Hour Mountain Bike Championships.
“The SCOTT Australian 24-Hour has grown from humble beginnings in Canberra in 1999 when Canberra Off-Road Cyclists staged the first event for 178 riders at Deeks Reserve,” Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said at the event launch today. “It has now grown to be the largest mountain bike race of its type in the world.”
“The event pits individuals and teams against themselves and the clock to see how many laps they can complete in a 24-hour period.
“Events like this showcase the investment the ACT Government has made in the world-class Stromlo Forest Park facility and will hopefully encourage many of the participating riders to return to visit the ACT to ride our mountain bike trails,” Mr Stanhope said.
Canberra Off-Road Cycling President Anthony Burton encouraged Canberran's to visit Stromlo Forest Park to see the action.
“Whether you’re a participant or spectator, this year’s SCOTT 24-Hour promises to promote fun, camaraderie and sheer cycling pleasure,” he said. “This year’s event includes the Rugby World Cup on the big screen, numerous village vendors and even a jumping castle for the kids. But, for me, I am really looking forward to seeing over 2000 lights criss-crossing the face of Mount Stromlo after sunset.”
The Scott 24 Hour race starts at midday today and finishes at midday tomorrow, Sunday 14 October.
16th August 2007
Map and signage upgrades
Stromlo Forest Park management are currently preparing updated maps for the web site and the signage on site. These works will hopefully be ready by October 2007. These works will also include the installation of track markers indicating trail ratings and direction.
XC MTB tracks
Renowned MTB track designer and track builder, Glen Jacobs from World Trail, is back at Stromlo Forest Park constructing Stage 2 of the XC MTB tracks. These are due to be completed by October 2007 in time for the Scott24. If you see him out there, be sure to let him know what you think of the tracks at Stromlo Forest Park.
Downhill Track opening
The Downhill MTB track will be open on the 18th August 2007. The installation of the bridge has been completed with final approvals due on the 17th of August. Changes have been made to the track to realign with the bridge so please take care.
28th May 2007
The Mountain Cross Track (4X) is now open.
11 April 2007
TRACK UPDATES
Mountain Cross (4X) - The Mountain Cross track is closed due to safety construction work. Large amounts of soil are being imported to the track to reduce the battering slope. It is anticipated this work will be completed in May 2007. Please check the web site again for any more updates.
Downhill (DH) . The Downhill track is currently closed until such time as a permanent bridge is installed de-conflicting the downhill track and an equestrian trail. The works for this should start in May with an anticipated completion in June 2007. Please check the web site again for any more updates.
Cross Country (XC) - The Cross country tracks are open. Please follow the track markers and be mindful of other users.
In the meantime please STAY OFF these tracks, as riding them before they are finished could result in injury to yourself or another park user.
29 January 2007
2009 World Mountain Bike and Trials Championships to be held in Canberra
Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Andrew Barr today welcomed the announcement that the 2009 World Mountain Bike and Trials Championships would be held in Canberra.
27 January 2007
mountain bike facilities and events pavilion
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr will today officially open the new mountain bike facilities and events pavilion at the new Stromlo Forest Park.
Stromlo Forest Park is a shared public facility with designated trails for bike riders, walkers and equestrians. Trails are clearly marked and colour coded and there are specific rules for their use.
