Sustainable Trails
Conference 2021
Alice Springs,
Northern Territory
Tuesday 1st June
| 1.30 pm approx. Bus pick up for conference as per map and timetable | ||
| 2.00 pm | Introduction and welcome | Janet Mackay Director | TRC Tourism |
| Welcome to Country | Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation | |
| Creating Successful Trails for the Visitor | ||
| 2.30 pm | Creating exceptional visitor experiences | Heath Garratt Tasmanian Walking Company |
| 3.00 pm | A look at the 7-stanes Trail network story | Amanda Layden Project Manager, Trails – Tourism and Economic Development | Department for Environment and Water SA |
| 3.30 pm | Afternoon tea | |
| 4.00 pm | What’s happening in great walks | Janet Mackay Director | TRC Tourism |
| 4.30 pm | Linking products and trails – examples from the wineries | VIRTUAL PRESENTATION Chris Rose Senior Consultant | TRC Tourism |
| 5.00 pm | Forum – Exceptional trail experiences | |
| 5.40 pm | Conference Close | |
| Grab a drink and confirm field trip selection for tomorrow with Donna/Lisa | ||
| 6.00 pm | Move to Courtyard for drinks and nibbles followed by BBQ dinner at the Desert Park | |
| 8.30 pm | Bus departs – return to Alice Springs | |
Wednesday 2nd June
| 8.20-8.30 am approx. Bus pick up for conference as per map and timetable | ||
| 8.50 am | Introduction to the day | Penny Spoelder Senior Consultant | TRC Tourism |
| Planning, Management and Maintenance | ||
| 8.55 am | Carsick Snails – Planning the Creswick Trails Network and navigating complex land managers and difficult stakeholders | VIRTUAL PRESENTATION Alison Breach Project Manager| Hepburn Shire Council |
| 9.15 am | M & Ms of Trails (Management, Marketing, Maintenance) | VIRTUAL PRESENTATION Cormac McCarthy Senior Open Space Development Officer | Manningham Council |
| 9.35 am | UK trail building and urban trails | VIRTUAL PRESENTATION Phil Saxena Director | Velo Solutions |
| 9.55 am | The essentials of successful maintenance regimes | Kain Gardner Consultant | TRC Tourism |
| 10.15 am | St Helens Trails Ambassador program overview | John Brown General Manager | Break O Day District Council |
| 10.35 am | Panel discussion | |
| 11.00 am | Field trip instructions | Penny Spoelder Senior Consultant | TRC Tourism |
| 11.05 am | Morning Tea (and pick up packed lunch) | |
| Field Trips | ||
| 11.20 am | Depart for field trips | |
| Field trip 1 Approx. return 6 pm | Larapinta Trail: Construction and Management (15-20 people max) Chris Day, Phil Cowan and Janet Mackay | Delegates will view a range of different track construction techniques on this iconic walking track and will understand the challenges of working in an arid environment (Visit Simpsons Gap and Ormiston Gorge and points of interest along the way). |
| Field trip 2 Approx. return 4.30 – 5.30 pm | MTB Trail construction and maintenance Overview inspection of mountain bike network on MTBs limited to 25 people Kain Gardner and Marty Krieg | Delegates will explore the extensive MTB trail network around Alice Springs and observe the different techniques that have been applied and the opportunities the network presents for visitor experience. This will include discussions with a number of trail planners and builders on the applicability and feasibility of machine-based construction versus hand based builds and the choices trail builders face. Bus from Desert Park to Telegraph station – start and finish location. |
| Field trip 3 Approx. return 4.30 – 5.30 pm | A new trail experience on Yeperenye country Yeperenye Traditional Owners, Sanchia Scott, Beth Campbell and Chris Halstead | The Yeperenye Traditional Owners will share their story on country of a new walking experience they are developing in the East MacDonnell Ranges (between Emily and Jessie Gap). The field trip will include some walking and will also include consideration of arid zone trail design & construction techniques |
| 4.30 – 6.30 pm | Field trips complete | Field trip busses will return you to Alice Springs at varying times between 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm depending on field trip location. Dinner own choice and delegate own expense. |
Thursday 3rd June
| 8.20 – 8.30 am approx. Bus pick up for conference as per map and timetable | ||
| 8.50 am | Introduction to the day | Penny Spoelder Senior Consultant | TRC Tourism |
| Spotlight on the Red Centre Adventure Ride | ||
| 9.10 am | The concept comes to life | Janet Mackay Director | TRC Tourism |
| 9.30 am | Engaging with the Traditional Owners | Chris Day Senior Director Parks and Wildlife Operations | Department of Tourism Sport and Culture |
| 9.50 am | Planning and design | Chris Halstead Senior Consultant | TRC Tourism |
| 10.10 am | Panel discussion | |
| 10.40 am | Morning tea | |
| Positioning Trails For Success | ||
| 11.00 am | The benefits of trails to a destination | VIRTUAL PRESENTATION Terry Robinson CEO | Destination Gippsland |
| 11.30 am | Creating success from a jigsaw of trails – the Yarra Ranges story |
VIRTUAL PRESENTATION Terry Jenvey Yarra Ranges Shire Council |
| 11.50 am | Mountain biking in Australia – An economic and participation analysis | Denise Cox and Georgia Pelling Representing Auscycling and GHD |
| 12.10 pm | How a compelling story and strategic community partnership transform towns into trails destinations | Dean Unsworth CEO | Shire of Murray WA |
| 12.30 pm | WA Hiking Strategy 2020-2030: New thinking on an ancient activity |
Steve Bennet Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries Western Australia |
| 12.50 pm | Lunch | |
| 1.50 pm | Forum – Critical success factors for trails in a destination | |
| 2.50 pm | How Trails have changed the face of Tasmania | Chris Griffin CEO | Visit Northern Tasmania |
| 3.20 pm | Afternoon tea | |
| 3.35 pm | Conference wrap up and close | Janet Mackay/Penny Spoelder |
| 4.oo pm sharp | Bus back to Alice Springs | note: only a 20 min turn around before bus returns to pick you up for dinner |
| 4.40 pm | Bus collection from accommodation for dinner | |
| 5.30 pm | Gala Dinner at Ooraminna Station Homestead | |
| 10.00 pm | Bus departs Ooraminna Station Homestead to return to Alice Springs | |
With thanks to our host sponsor
What did past attendees think?
The Sustainable Trails Conference provided an excellent opportunity to share best practice across a variety of topics from trail building to governance. Each session was valuable in its own right. Great to see the collaboration between our two countries as we all strive to make the most of this growing community.
The sustainable trails conference is a must do for all those involved in the planning, development and marketing of tracks and trails.
A well run and organised conference, excellent speakers who certainly provided a range of information in the topics presented. Took away some key learnings.
I have been to a lot of conferences before, this was one of the best I have ever attended.
A fantastic conference. Great speaker line-up with leaders in the field. Learned a lot and made new connections.
The Sustainable Trails Conference provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the importance of trails to local economies and tourism, the amount of work going on in this space, and to share and learn from others working in the field.