About TMCF

Context and background

Our story began

From Blueprint to Pathway:
Tamborine Mountain’s Decade-Long Vision Takes Shape

For more than a decade, the idea has lived on paper and in community imagination: a safe, scenic multi-purpose transport trail winding through Tamborine Mountain, where cyclists, walkers, families, and horse riders could move freely—separate from the growing pressure of traffic—while soaking in the views that define the mountain.

First raised in community discussions as early as 2013 by Howard Stevens & Derek Swanborough, and captured in the original Tamborine Mountain Community Blueprint, the proposal for a dedicated cycle and walking track has endured through years of advocacy, sketches in council files, and persistent local campaigning. Now, after more than ten years, that long-held vision is moving decisively from concept to reality.

The journey began in earnest back in January 2024, after discussions with Mayor Tom Sharp, local Councillors and local business leaders resulting in the formation of the Tamborine Mountain Advisory Group. With monthly meetings at St Bernards Hotel, TMD and Pethers, the group quickly dusted off the 2018 Mountain Community Blueprint and asked a new, but simple, yet powerful question What is Tamborine Mountain’s signature project?

The answer was unanimous. “It’s always been about connection,” says local advocate and advisory group chair Alison Rip. “Connecting our schools, connecting people to nature, and reconnecting with that sense of a safe, shared space we feel the mountain lacks. A mountain-wide trail will be the thread that ties it all together.”

The result is the proposed Tamborine Mountain’s Signature Multi-Purpose Transport Trail—an ambitious, multi-million-dollar, integrated pathway designed as a communal artery for the mountain. Far more than a bike path, the trail is intended to accommodate bicycles, walkers, runners, mobility scooters, and, in selected sections, horse riders, aligning with the SRRC’s Vibrant & Active Towns & Villages (VATV) and the Queensland Cycling Strategy 2017–2027 opening the door to potential state funding.

The long-term vision is striking. Plans include linking the Nature's Way Trail to an iconic Sunset Boulevard Circuit along the western escarpment to the Rotary Lookout—a landmark experience designed to showcase the mountain’s identity as the “Green Island in the Sky” and allow residents and visitors alike to reconnect with nature, sunset, and landscape.

But the project begins with a practical, achievable first step.

Stage One proposes a safe, traffic-calming crossing on Main Western Road near the hang-glider lookout, before weaving up the Long Road extension, past the sports fields, and returning via Hartley Road. The result would be the first dedicated, traffic-free loop for walking and cycling on Tamborine Mountain—an immediate and tangible improvement to safety and connectivity.

What truly sets this project apart, however, is not just its design, but how it will be delivered. In a significant shift from traditional infrastructure models, Scenic Rim Regional Council has endorsed a pioneering community-led partnership.

The newly established Tamborine Mountain Community Foundation was proposed by new Tamborine Mountain resident Greg Jensen, who has offered his years of philanthropic expertise to help address challenges unique to the mountain community. The foundation provides a transparent vehicle to attract grants, donations, and fundraising, ensuring funds raised for Tamborine Mountain are reinvested locally. Most importantly, it enables the community to move from ideas to action—supporting locally led projects through collaboration rather than reliance on limited public funding.

Greg commented, “The mountain inspires all of us. Through the foundation, we can transform that inspiration into lasting projects that protect its beauty and strengthen our community for generations.”

“This is a fundamental change in how things get done,” explains local business identity Gordon Chalmers, who sits on the advisory group. “It’s the community saying, this is our priority, and we are rolling up our sleeves to make it happen.’ Our role is to support, facilitate, and help clear bureaucracy out of the way.”

The foundation is established, with strong early support from local business leaders and senior community representatives. While alignment with state cycling policy may unlock government funding, community fundraising will form the bedrock of the project—ensuring local ownership remains central.

What began as lines on a page is becoming a shared community build—one that positions Tamborine Mountain as a model for community-led infrastructure and locally driven legacy projects. The dream of a safer, more connected Mountain is finally leaving the Blueprint Plan and becoming a community led reality.