Injection of funds for Animals on Bikes project

Cabonne Council on Tuesday agreed to provide $6,300 for the first year of a 3 year promotion and maintenance plan for the Animals on Bikes project

The Animals on Bikes trail located between Molong and Dubbo on the Banjo Paterson Way commences in Molong and travels through the villages of Cumnock and Yeoval. This popular community driven initiative aimed to address community spirit, health, unity and to attract tourists to the area who travel to spot the paddock sculptures on the alternate route to Dubbo.

This grass roots community project is successful in attracting numerous tourists. It helps raise the profile of Cabonne, build community capacity in the villages and provides a great marketing opportunity for many promotional products. The community benefits both socially and economically and these benefits have been difficult to accurately measure.

Animals on Bikes spans over 120km of paddock art created by local famers and community members. Since the initiatives inception in 2009 the 110 Animals on Bikes sculptures have attracted strong tourist attention and media interest.

Cumnock Progress Association representatives have discussed the Animals on Bikes future direction with Cabonne Council staff and representatives have presented their case to the Cabonne Country Tourism Advisory Committee for consideration.

Cumnock Community members, Rhonda Watt and Don Bruce identified the need to provide ongoing maintenance and promotion support to the paddock sculptures and the need to increase promotion for this successful community initiative to expand and reach its potential.

Year 1 will see repainting of sculptures, repairs and maintenance and a new sculpture between Orange & Molong.