Horse-Riders Persecuted by Incompetent Officials
'Your horse needs a snorkel!' by Paul Weston The Sunday Mail, 15/5/2005

The so-called "world class 236km horse riding trail network" unveiled by the Beattie Government this week runs along the Tilt Train railway line, by busy main roads and even under a lake.

Queensland Endurance Riders Association president Dick Collyer yesterday joked that his 700 members may have to buy "horse snorkels" to ride sections of the Sunshine Coast trail.

The network includes a gazetted road which is now Lake McDonald, west of Noosa.

Horse rider groups were briefed by Local Government and Planning staff late this week on the planned Noosa-Tewantin network.

The Brisbane State Forest and Gold Coast hinterland will be the next areas to be targeted by the Government as it plans to remove horse riders from state forests, which are to be turned into national parks.

Riders realised the Government's trails consultant had erred with some recommendations.

One rider told The Sunday Mail:

"We were just dumbfounded. Four kilometres of track is along the main north-south railway line that carries the Tilt Train and freight trains, with no exits if horses panic and bolt. At the meeting they suggested horse riders equip themselves with timetables to avoid trains. It's madness."

Mr Collyer said staff of Local Government and Planning Minister Desley Boyle had agreed to reconsider the trails.