Victoria’s mountain bike community took an important step forward with AusCycling and 10 clubs taking part in the state’s 2026 Mountain Bike Trails Summit.
Presented by Parks & Leisure Australia, Blue Sky Trails, Outdoors Victoria and Box Hill Institute, the summit drew together government representatives, land managers, trail advocates, industry leaders, clubs and community members, all united by one goal, to shape the future of Victoria’s trail networks.
This summit was a direct outcome of the Victorian MTB Trail Maintenance Project, led by AusCycling in partnership with Blue Sky Trails and funded through the Victorian Government’s Together More Active program.
Wrapping up in July 2025 AusCycling’s Victorian MTB Trail Maintenance project delivered:
· Ten workshops across metropolitan and regional Victoria, involving 15 clubs, 57 volunteers and 6 land management groups
· A Volunteer MTB Trail Maintenance Toolkit, providing clear standards and best practice guidance for clubs taking on trail care and maintenance
The summit gave voice to the people who build, ride and protect Victoria’s trails.
Building upon the productive and proactive discussions between Land Managers and MTB clubs during the Project workshops, the Summit was an opportunity to hear form the diversity of stakeholders who plan, build, ride, maintain and protect Victoria’s trail networks.
Clubs and land managers had the chance to meet face to face, share local challenges, and find common ground.
For many, it reinforced that while every trail network is unique, the goals are shared: safe, sustainable, accessible riding and recreation.
Speakers included representatives from Land Management agencies, Blue Sky Trails, Common Ground, Indigo and Hepburn Shires, Surf Coast and Lysterfield MTB Clubs, Warburton MTB Destination, WA Parks & Wildlife and AusCycling.
Among those inspired was Luke Muir, a new committee member at Surf Coast Mountain Bike Club.
“Before joining the club, I never thought much about funding and maintaining trails.
Now, I’m realising how much time, effort and money is required to keep our trail networks open and engaging.
Being able to connect with people from other clubs plus local and state government bodies at the summit showed me the importance of establishing a state-wide strategy for trails,” he said.
If your club is working on trail maintenance or planning projects, now is the time to connect.
Reach out to AusCycling to access the Trail Maintenance Toolkit or join upcoming workshops.