Mountain bikers will have access to 1,000 hectares in the Doumont trails area thanks to a new arrangement between the Regional District of Nanaimo, Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club and TimberWest.
The three announced the signing of a four-year access agreement Tuesday, which will see TimberWest providing access to its private forest land for non-motorized recreational use.
According to a press release, the regional district and mountain bike club are partnering to undertake a trail inventory, which will enable the club to determine priorities for maintenance and construction projects for the coming year.
The emphasis will be meeting industry standards for safety and infrastructure and will include trail improvements, trail ratings, standardized signage and mapping to enhance user experience. TimberWest and the club will maintain dialogue on harvesting plans and developing trails as well as co-ordinate the provision of access information to the public.
“The trail network at Doumont is well-established and popular with local recreationalists and tourists,” said Dana Wacker, club spokesperson. “This partnership will allow the club to make significant improvements to enhance the recreational experience for local users and visitors.”
The deal will also see a continuation of the RDN Biosolids Management Program, which sees treated organic material from municipal sewage treatment used as fertilizer on TimberWest land.