Regional Trails StrategyWhat is in it for you!

Craig Grocke – Regional Development Australia - Barossa

Why Focus on Trails?TOURISM• Visitors want experiences – of the life, the history, the people,

the natural environment, the food & produce and the culture of the places they visit.

• Trails can create a reason to visit, give an itinerary of interesting places to visit and induce them to spend more time (and money) in your region or town.

• Diversifying the tourism offer and increasing the length of stay for economic prosperity is also about leading and building the case for investment in opportunities that capitalise on resources and utilise partnerships.

Why Focus on Trails?Health and Well-being (Recreation)Recreational Trail Research for Greater Adelaide (2005)

• 23% of Adelaide’s residents cycle for pleasure.• 90% of trails are used for recreation• 10% use it as a route to get to a destination (transport) because the design does

not allow for a higher commuting speed.• High percentage of new users and potential for new trails and upgrades to

generate high conversion rates (attract even more people not currently using trails).

• 24% occasional users and 59% are regular users• Proximity to home increases usage• Popular as a low cost activity• Trails encourage mobility and social interaction which is good for building a

sense of community.

Scope of Regional Trails Strategy

Distribution of Open Space

Table 4: Useable Open Space Provision per ha/1000people LGA Useable Open Space Population 2006 Ha of OS per 1000 Population 2036 Ha of OS per 1000 OS required in 2036 Surplus or Deficit (Ha)

Barossa 270.7 20,528 13.19 39,965 6.8 360 - 89

Gawler 178.3 18,862 9.45 40,606 5.3 366 - 188

Light 308.1 12,405 24.84 79,217 3.8 713 - 405

Mallala 245.8 7,892 31.14 9,899 24.8 89 +156

Region 1002.9 59,687 16.8 169,687 5.9 1527 The table above identifies existing open space distribution and highlights the need to plan for

increased provision into the future to retain the 9 hectare per 1000 benchmark for each council

Distribution of Open Space – How do we compare?

LGA Local Trails Regional Trails National Trails

Barossa 11 1 3

Gawler 1 0 0

Light 0 1 3

Mallala 1 0 0

Hierarchy of Trails within each LGA

Trails Network Distribution

Gawler Network

Current Opportunities• Seppeltsfield Road shared path network • Williamstown nature-based recreation hub,• Concordia Shared Path network extension to Gawler• Gawler River (long term)• Northern Parks Project – increasing access and visitation to Parra

Wirra• Mt Lofty Ranges Mountain Bike network – creating a world class MTB

destination• Warren Reservoir and Barossa Reservoir – development of recreation

and tourism• Geo-caching trail network

So what is in it for You? Why have a Regional Trails Strategy?• Better Recreation Opportunities = better health and wellbeing• Tourism Experiences for Visitors = linger longer and spend

more• Stewardship of Natural Resources = place attachment and

meaning• Regional Strategy to assist Grant Applications or Proposals to

Govt.• Partnerships to access ‘Embedded Resources’ (knowledge,

experiences, networks and capital)• Understanding ‘the Bigger Picture’ and the ‘Framework’ to

operate within.• A Strategy to help gauge your ideas – a sounding board.

Developing Trails – Please Consider

• What is the purpose of the trail? (Recreation, Tourism, Land Management?)

• Who is your target market?• What type of experience? • What resources are required?• What is the land tenure and who is the land manager?• Who will manage the asset in the future?• Who are the key partners to deliver an outcome?

Call to Action

C raig G rocke Economic Development Executive - Spatial Planning and Place Management

M +61 0421 413 010 | P +61 8 8563 3603 | F +61 8 8563 3584 28 Murray Street | (PO Box 767) | Tanunda | SA | 5352 | AUSTRALIA E craig@barossa.org.au | W www.barossa.org.au “Barossa Gawler Light Mallala – working together”

- Do you know of any local trail projects that RDA Barossa should know about?- Do you have comments on local or regional trails to be considered in the

Strategy?- If you want to see a draft copy of the Strategy in 2016 please send your

contact details.