The state government is likely to give the go-ahead in February for Orange City Council to put the proposal out to public consultation.

Mayor Reg Kidd said the council’s decision in late 2016 to ask former environment minister Mark Speakman for permission to change the mountain’s management plan to include mountain biking only recently reached current minister Gabrielle Upton for consideration.

“It got caught up in the bureaucracy within [the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service] (NPWS),” he said. 

However, Cr Kidd said a meeting with Ms Upton just before Christmas proved fruitful, with news the state government was also looking at how to use national parks better. 

“It sounds more promising,” he said. 

With time allowed to consider public submissions, Ms Upton would not make a decision until at least September and Cr Kidd was concerned about the turnaround.

“My concern is if we don’t do it, someone else will jump in on us,” he said.

The other obstacle in the project’s way is cost, with the NPWS having limited funds to maintain the current facilities and cut the number of feral pigs and invasive plants.

The Hopetoun Falls track has been closed since 2015 because the service did not have the resources to fix damage to the path from a fallen tree. 

But after a trip to the Tasmanian town of Derby last week, which is about the size of Spring Hill and has experienced a boom since mountain biking started three years ago, Cr Kidd said money generated went back into maintaining the trails and environment.

“It has to be a win-win,” he said.

“It ensures the conservation of the biodiversity of the area – Tasmania is way ahead of any other state in preserving national parks and heritage areas.

“The trails at the moment cut out a lot of elderly people with disposable income because if they haven’t seen it, they won’t donate.”

Cr Kidd also visited Maydena, where a husband and wife couple will open a trail centre with accommodation at the former schoolhouse later this month. 

“They’re converting it into bunk houses and shower blocks, it’s a lot like the scout camp,” he said. 

“I think a partnership would be better than if it became a council-owned and run thing where it would be subject to council priorities.”

He said the economic flow-on effects would include bike hire businesses, transport and accommodation providers, right through to restaurants and petrol stations. 

With environmental conservationists concerned the plans designed by World Trail would clear six hectares of the Mount Canobolas State Conservation Area, Cr Kidd said the most sensitive areas could be reserved for hiking only.

“They need to have a look at what’s happening in Derby and Maydena – it has to be done properly,” he said.