News Archive
Feature story
18 august 2010
Makin Trax pump track and XC skills area at Ausbike trade show in Melbourne
The Makin Trax crew have just returned from Melbourne where we designed and constructed a pump track and skills area for the trade show on this weekend the 20th-22nd of August. The Ausbike trade show is the leading trade show in the country for all things to do with biking. The leading manufacturers and related industry business's will be there showing off all the 2011 bikes and gear.
7 july 2010
Makin Trax Australia WINNER in Telstra Business Awards!
We are proud to announce that Makin Trax is the winner of the Micro-Business Award at the 2010 Telstra Business Awards. We now go on to the National Awards ceremony in Sydney to represent the ACT in August.
MEDIA RELEASE 7 July 2010
Business behind Stromlo Forest Park scoops 2010 Telstra ACT Business Award
Makin Trax Australia, a small innovative local business born out of the Canberra Bushfires, last night scooped the Businessowner Micro-Business Award at the 2010 Telstra ACT Business Awards. The business designs, constructs, maintains and remediates mountain bike, walking and multi-use track networks in Canberra and the region.
“To be an award finalist was a major thrill – and to now be a winner is a dream come true,” said Makin Trax Australia business owner, Darren Stewart.
Makin Trax was established in 2005 by Darren and his partner Heather. Darren, a passionate mountain biker, started out as a volunteer building some of Canberra’s most well known mountain biking tracks. It was the devastating bushfires of 2003, the reconstruction of Mt Stromlo and in particular the reconstruction of its mountain bike facilities, that turned Darren’s passion into his profession.
Makin Trax worked closely with the ACT Government’s, Territory Venues and Events to rebuild the area turning it into the world class facility that is Stromlo Forest Park, host of the 2009 UCI World Mountain Bike and Trials Championships. Makin Trax played a big part in delivering this world class event and the venue was widely hailed as the best on the world circuit.
“The key to our business is innovation. And its innovation that keeps us ahead of the game. We build new tools, new processes and new systems to create an unforgettable experience for all track users,” Darren said last night in his awards acceptance speech.
“When it comes to the trails that we build it’s not about the destination – it’s all about the journey,” he continued.
The business has recently completed several other major projects for the ACT Government’s, Parks Conservation and Lands, including the walking and multi-use tracks at Tidbinbilla, track remediation at Umbagong Park and the initial planning for a walking track at Gibraltar Rock. They also completed the Casuarina Walking Trail at Mt Majura and with the ACT Government’s support are working on the Centenary Trail concept, a grand network of off-road tracks that spans over 300km.
Darren last night thanked Makin Trax’ major clients the ACT Government for its vision and support of Stromlo Forest Park and recreational trail use in community areas. “We look forward to expanding our role as an integral and influential part of the fast growing track building industry in Australia, and on the international stage. And we have a vision for Canberra as the world’s best city for nature based and cycle tourism,” Darren concluded.
[ends]
For more information, images or to arrange an interview, please contact Lauren Griffiths at Threesides on 0417 409 264, or lauren.griffiths@threesides.com.au
16 june 2010
Makin Trax a finalist in Telstra Business Awards 2010!
Its been a busy year for the Makin Trax team and the icing on the cake has been making the finalists list of the 2010 Telstra Awards. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed and supported us this year.
10 june 2010
Casuarina Walking Trail selected as a finalist in Master Builders Awards 2010!
Around this time last year Makin Trax delivered the Casurina Walking Trail refurbishment. This job was opened and recognised by chief minister Jon Stanhope as a great success and commended the Makin Trax team on its craftsmanship that saw the project as a triumph. Now as confirmation of the projects success the judges from the Mater Builders ACT have placed the Casurina Walking Track as a finalist in its 2010 awards for excellence.
2 june 2010
Recent work at Stromlo Forest Park
Following the weekends Capital Punishment 100km race we took the opportunity to do some reworking of some areas on the climb and in particular at Echidna Gap. We are also trialing a new material that should be a lot more resilient than the native soils
9 march 2010
Rivers at Mt Stromlo
140mm of rain backed up by 80mm a couple of weeks later has made Stromlo Forrest Park a different place. Here are some pics of the good and not so good.
22 January 2010
Makin Trax commissioned to finish award winning building
Knowing Makin Trax's commitment to sensitive environments and our experience as licenced builders, Parks Conservation and Lands asked us to complete the Franklin shelter at Mt Franklin. This was built to replace the Franklin Chalet that was destroyed in the 2003 bushfires. Some of the work undertaken was installing rainwater tanks, new valley strainers, sealing of the floor and building brick piers to mark out the original building. The Franklin Shelter is right on the ACT/NSW border. It is that close to the border that the shelter is in ACT and the toilet building is in NSW! Mt Franklin is Canberra's 1st ski field and has been a popular destination for the Canberra Ski Club over the years.
Recent Makin Trax News
15 January 2010
Maintenance at Stromlo Forest Park
Back from the Christmas break and there is clear evidence of huge numbers using the tracks at SFP. The first port of call was the berm that follows Old Duffy to restore it to it's former glory.
21 December 2009
New warning signs at Stromlo Forest Park
One of the last jobs for the year is to install a few warning signs at some of the technical alternatives on the track. Also some 'one way go back' signs have been installed to help direct users in the right direction.
31 october 2009
Makin Trax donates to Yarralumla Montessori School
This weekend just gone saw the construction of a new element to the playground at the Yarralumla Montessori School. 6 giant rocks weighing up to 4 tonnes each became the centre piece of the new play area for the students.
October 2009
Casuarina Walking Track unveiled by Chief Minister
Earlier this year Makin Trax was commissioned to undertake the refurbishment of the Casuarina Walking Track on Mt Majura. The track is a popular, high volume use track but was in a state of utter disrepair and degradation: an ‘environmental nightmare’ was a term used to describe its former state.
Access, or rather a lack thereof, was the biggest challenge with this job. The crew could only access the track from the bottom and work had to start at the top, so a considerable amount of work was invested in just getting to the top to start the remediation work.
Added to the requirement of starting at the top of the work area, we had to preserve existing steps that were scattered along the steep alignment. Makin Trax also gave an undertaking to not adversely impact the immediate environment surrounding the track and to keep intact its sensitive nature.
All this was overcome by implementing some innovative ideas and solutions which is what sets Makin Trax apart from other track builders. Many potential solutions were assessed and a final solution arrived at; mainly through the experience and understanding of the requirements of Principal, Darren Stewart, and his knowledge as a licensed builder.
Before and after:
The depth of knowledge and expertise to leverage different industry practices, further complements the high level of craftsmanship that Makin Trax is known for.
The leader of the Friends of Mt Majura (Mt Majura Park Care Group) Waltraud Pix said she was “extremely happy with the state of the art track that Makin Trax produced”.
ACT Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, on opening the track remarked that “the level of craftsmanship applied to the re-engineering of this track is a testament to the competency of Makin Trax; and it has left the residents of Mt Majura and Canberra, a legacy for generations to enjoy.”
Before and after:
13 october 2009
Darren working with students from Radford College
Darren shows students from Radford College the relevant maths that go into creating and engineering the tracks out at Stromlo Forest Park.
1 - 6 SEPTEMBER 2009
UCI Mountain Bike and Trails World Championships comes to Canberra
Months of work preparing for this fantastic event paid off for Makin Trax as 48,000 spectators came out to see world's best riders from 41 countries in action at Stromlo Forest Park this week.
2 September 2009
Makin Trax in Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun
Darren Stewart talks about the genesis of the Makin Trax and his passion for this specialised industry with Jenny Dillon for the 'businessowner' editorial
21 August 2009
Makin Trax on ABC TV - Stateline
Darren Stewart shows Chris Kimball from Stateline the tracks that will be used to host the 2009 UCI Mountain Bike and Trails World Championships. James Kiwi, Event Director and Anthony Burton, former CORC President were also interviewed in the lead up to the event which will be held 1-6 September at Stromlo Forest Park.
24 July 2009
Telstra Business Award Finalist
Makin Trax was named 2009 Telstra Business Awards ACT Finalist. There were thousands of nominations from around the country, about 300 of whom were from the ACT. The Telstra Business Awards is in its 17th year and is the pre-eminent national awards program for small and medium businesses. It celebrates the achievements of enterprises across Australia and recognises Australia's leading small to medium enterprises. We are proud to have been selected as one of only five ACT Finalists in this prestigious Awards program.
23 July 2009
Makin Trax in the City News
'Darren's on the fast track to success' as described in an editorial in the City News in the lead up to the Telstra Business Awards
15 july 2009
Berm at Triple treat gets a make over
We have been busy on the DH track lately getting ready for the World Champs in September. This week was no exception. The big berm at the top of triple treat got the Makin Trax treatment, all 150 tonnes of it! Yep about 150 tonnes of material was trucked in to boost its size....
15 july 2009
Ben Cory hits up the new Wallaby Run
Minister Andrew Barr came out to Stromlo Forrest Park to check out the re-vamped Wallaby Run on the DH track. Makin Trax was given the task of speeding up this section and with loads of valuable input from Jared Rando, Makin Trax with Ben Cory have achieved this and more....
27 June 2009
Sign of the times
Makin Trax in conjunction with Swell Design, Screenmakers and CORC, has been busy planning, designing and managing the installation of trail and trail-head signs at Stromlo Forest Park. To compliment the signage there have been some significant updates to the map and the inclusion of 6 separate loops to try out as well as some name changes. The loops range from beginner level up to advanced and offer a short 30min ride or a longer 90 to 120min ride depending on your riding pace. The trail signs give you all the information you need to know to navigate each loop in a simple and intuitive way.
14 May 2009
Casuarina Walking Trail upgrade on Mt Majura
We have been be commissioned by ACT Parks, Conservation and Lands to refurbish this eroded walking track. This project is a big challenge with significant access issues in an environmentally sensitive area. It is expected that the job will take 6 weeks to complete with everything being on our side, most notably the weather. With some 60+ stone steps to build major water control issues and a very steep and unfriendly access path this will test the team
13 May 2009
Makin Trax at the other Mount Franklin!
While there’s no sign of mineral water on this Mount Franklin, there are signs of a new shelter on the site to replace the old chalet; the MakinTrax team have been asked to complete this project by ACT Parks, Conservation and Lands. The area has heritage values that need to be kept intact and environmental sensitivities that need special attention.
Due to the weather - more particularly the snow, this project will take a few visits to complete the works.
While in the area we have been asked to do some work at Bendora Dam...watch this space