Mr Watson said that he was am delighted to announce that the World Trail team had landed safely in the north-East and started construction of the proposed trails. 

``Now that the project is quickly becoming a reality, council officers are working with community organisations such as North-East Tasmanian Tourism and the Chamber of Commerce to hold information sessions for businesses and potential investors to leverage off the opportunities the project offers,'' he reported.

``It is anticipated that the information sessions will be held in mid May and will be communicated through the various community networks and the North East Advertiser.

``Council has also commenced discussions with local services groups about the potential to participate in elements of the project.''

The $3 million project will see World Trail construct 80 kilometres of mountain bike trails around Derby and the Blue Tier by March 2016.

World Trail is a leading Australian mountain bike trail design and construction organisation and has designed and built a substantial number of Australia's best trail networks.

It has a history of more than 250 projects in 18 countries, from Olympic, World Championships, and World Cup courses to recreational trails.

The north-east project has bipartisan support from the federal government with the council recently receiving affirmation from Bass Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic that the previously announced federal government funding commitment of $2.5 million would be honoured by the newly elected Coalition government.

Mayor Barry Jarvis said that the north-east had been hit hard with the downturn in the forestry industry and was ``extremely grateful'' to the federal Coalition for their support of the project.

The North East Mountain Bike Trails in Derby and Blue Tier would boost visitor numbers in the region and create new employment opportunities in the area of sustainable tourism, Councillor Jarvis said.