Snowy River Shire Council (SRSC) secured the grant. In time, SRSC intends to build or connect existing cycle ways around all of Lake Jindabyne. A cycle track from the Jindabyne dam wall to Tyrolean Village will be the most expensive section to build.

Land formations, sites of aboriginal significance and the need for permission from the Roads and Traffic Authority add to the complexity of this section of track.

At their environment and community services committee meeting last week, Crs Beer and Hayes raised concerns about maintenance costs associated with bike trails.

Executive manager of environmental services Charles Litchfield assured councillors well built tracks required little maintenance and cyclists normally did what was required.

“Where cycle paths are built in State Forests, bike users maintain the tracks themselves. If a tree falls over the track the users clear it,” Mr Litchfield said.

Cr John Shumack said the project seemed to have “a fairly open-ended funding arrangement” and requested clarification on money SRSC would have to contribute upon accepting the grant.

Cr Kris Laird said her main concern was safety for families cycling from Jindabyne to the starting point, or crossing Jindabyne Road if cyclists drove and parked immediately beyond the dam wall.

This week Mr Litchfield said cycle trails similar to those in Whistler, British Columbia, and Boulder, Colorado, would give an economic boost to the Snowy Mountains.

Mr Litchfield said quality cycling trails invited “the best sort of tourism you can get”.