Warrnambool Mountain Bike Club

WMTBC statement on unauthorised activities at Thunder Point:

WMTBC is extremely disappointed that the unauthorised track and jumps building at Thunder Point has resulted in the destruction of vegetation and destroyed the flow of some of the existing approved trails. It has also compromised the safety of all trail users.

The club’s disappointment is exacerbated as it has provided many hundreds of volunteer hours in the past to meet all of the red tape requirements just to maintain the existing trail network, despite mountain biking being supported in Warrnambool City Council’s plan for recreation and sporting activities. The club used its own funds some years ago with agreement of agency officials for a trail audit of the Thunder Point trail network to guide developments.

WMTBC has worked extremely hard over many years as a volunteer club to obtain and maintain a licenced mountain bike trail network, complete with signage and mapping. The club has responsibly managed some big dollar w**d removal, preservation and revegetation projects over past years, such as Green Army and Coastcare. The club has acted proactively since it’s inception in 2007 to preserve Aboriginal cultural heritage and protect against vegetation destruction.

But it raises the wider issue of the future of the Thunder Point area for mountain biking. The illegal trail building highlights the need for proper and constructive development. It highlights the need for appropriate mountain biking infrastructure as exists in many other regional locations, such as Forrest, Harcourt and Creswick to name a few.

The illegal works highlight that there is a distinct demand for mountain biking facilities, and especially by younger riders, that needs to be constructively addressed.

Also, the club is frustrated by the distinct lack of progress on the reinstatement of trails that were taken away by the recent Wannon Water expansion. This should have been finalised before revegetation of the area, which we understand has now commenced. Given the extent of vegetation removed by Wannon Water, it would have been expected that more significant dialogue would have been undertaken with WMTBC as a major stakeholder. It seems to the club that Wannon Water wishes to minimise their spending in relation to any trail reinstatement and does not value the community it serves.

The Committee
Warrnambool Mountain Bike Club Inc
7 July 2026

Reminder: WMTBC AGM, Thursday 23 October, 7.00 pm, Cally Hotel

The Warrnambool Mountain Bike Club Inc will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 23 October at 7.00 pm at the Cally Hotel Function Room (112 Fairy Street Warrnambool). Dinner beforehand at 6.15 for those interested. All welcome.

Results from the 3 mountain bike rounds of the Cranky Thunder series:

1st: Noah Crispe
2nd: Remy Boote
3rd: Jack Aitken
4th: Louis Beaton
5th: Brian Dufty
6th: Cooper Pollack
7th: Ruben De Silva-Smith
8th: Josh Moulton
9th: Jayce Dufty
=10th: Dion Beaton and Lisa Munro
12th: Louis O'Callaghan

Thanks to all riders and volunteers! And thanks to Royal Bikes for supplying the prizes.

Due to the unavailability of many committee members, the third mountain bike race of the Cranky Thunder series has been POSTPONED BY ONE WEEK from Friday 6 December to Friday 13 December.

This decision has also been made given the possibility of adverse weather, including thunderstorms, forecast for 6 December.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Round 3 of Cranky Thunder series

Reminder: WMTBC Annual General Meeting tomorrow night.
Wednesday 11 September. Cally Hotel (meeting room).
7.30 pm for meeting; 6.30 for meal beforehand.

So what does this mean for WMTBC events?

The Warrnambool Athletics Club are holding an event that will run through Thunder Point this Sunday (16 June) between approximately 9.00 and 10.00 am. So please keep an eye out for runners if you are in the area then.

WAC 2024 Race 6 - Deep Blue Hotel and Hot Springs 6km at Stingray Bay 6km Handicap - Wave Start. 2km Junior Race - Mass Start.