A network of on-road and off-road bike paths linking Carcoar to Orange and onto Lake Canobolas and the Pinnacle has been proposed in a $27 million plan for boosting regional tourism.
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Orange360 is working with Orange, Cabonne and Blayney councils to prepare a business case for state government funding.
Orange360 general manager Caddie Marshall said cycling, ranging from keen road riding to dedicated bicycle paths, had been identified as a key attraction for tourists.
"We can certainly demonstrate how it has increased visitation around the world," she said.
We're 90 per cent there with the business case study. It's almost done.
- Caddie Marshall, Orange360 general manager
Ms Marshall said it was planned to create new paths linking existing bike trails in Orange as well as providing on-road trails linking towns throughout the three council areas.
The first stage would see improvements and links to existing trails.
In Orange that included providing an off-road path to the Agrestic Grocer site on Molong Road, an improved trail to Lake Canobolas, a path from Phillip Street toward the Kinross State Forest and a path at Ken Rawle Park.
There would also be road improvements on Huntley Road, work to provide a Lucknow link and upgrades on the Pinnacle Loop.
She said on-road cycling would be improved with roadworks to improve road shoulders to make safe room for riding, plus providing on-road markings for the trails.
Ms Marshall said they would be seeking about $20 million funding from the state government under the Growing Local Economies fund.
The rest of the money would come from the three councils.
"We're 90 per cent there with the business case study. It's almost done," she said.
Ms Marshall said the trails would be supported by other resources including downloadable maps showing the bicycle trails, signage and dedicated bike racks for cyclists to stop while visiting the various towns on the trails.
Cabonne Council backed the proposal at its meeting on Tuesday. It agreed the funding submission be forwarded to the government.
Improvements in Cabonne's local government area in the first stage included safety upgrades on Forest Road-Spring Hill Road and upgrading Pinnacle Road to Mount Canobolas.
Improvements would also be made to the Lake Canobolas Road, Nashdale Road, Heifer Station Road area including a new footbridge and a new footpath.
Blayney Shire Council would see improvements to links within its villages and upgrading Spring Hill Road in the first stage of the plan.
Ms Marshall said it was important the plan included a diversity of facilities being available for cycling, just like the diversity of wine and accommodation offerings that were available in Orange.
She said the Orange Regional Bicycle Tourism Project would include a pump track which she said was like a skate park for cyclists.
"It [the overall plan] needs to look like a tourism product," Ms Marshall said.
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