Wimmera Development Association has completed the project with funding from the state government and 11 regional councils.

The master plan spans an area from Bacchus Marsh through to the South Australian border.

Horsham Rural City mayor Pam Clarke said cycling was a growing sport, and councils and organisations needed to look at how to cater to that need.

“Cycling is one of the biggest growing sports for our community,” she said.

“We need to look at the best way we can provide services for people to participate in that.

“Whether it is cycling to work or school, riding competitively for sport or socially as a family, it’s an important area and we need to see where and how we can meet those needs.”

Cr Clarke noted the importance of cycling and tourism events to small country communities.

“Cycling events can have a big impact on small communities,” she said.

“We have one this weekend with the Arapiles Cycling Event, raising money for the Wimmera Drug Action Taskforce. It’s a massive industry.”

Wimmera Development Association executive director Ralph Kenyon said the master plan was a collaborative effort. 

“This project gives the Grampians region a 10-year plan to guide a more strategic approach to the opportunities for cycling tourism across the region,” he said.

“We’ve seen what cycle tourism can do in reviving towns like Forrest in the Otway ranges, and Derby in Tasmania, where riders from all over Australia flock to ride the incredible mountain bike trails.

“Our project has created a road map to attract the investment that is needed to grow a new tourism product in our region.”

The master plan includes full economic business cases for the Wimmera River Discovery Trail and Ararat Hills Mountain Bike Track.

The Ararat Hills track will seek to create tourism opportunities for Ararat, Great Western and surrounding towns, with the aim to link paths through the Great Western wineries. 

The Wimmera River Discovery Trail project was proposed in 2016 with an aim to create an 130-kilometre walking and cycling trail from Horseshoe Bend at Dimboola to just south of Wyperfeld National Park. 

Last year, Hindmarsh Council chose not to progress the project due to funding priorities. 

The master plan highlights two stages for the project.

The first will connect Dimboola to Lake Hindmarsh, and the second will link Horsham to Dimboola via Natimuk.