The inaugural Tour de Valley Cycling time trial event featuring the 2012 Queensland Elite, Under 19 and Masters Individual Time Trial Championships will be held on September 8, 2012 in the Currumbin Valley. The event caters for both competitive cyclists from Junior Under 19 to Masters as well as any cyclist just wanting to test themselves over the course in a special non-championship event. Distances range from 36km for the full course with shorter distances conducted for Women, Masters and Junior championship categories. Supporters, spectators and the general public can enjoy the festive atmosphere of the event precinct that showcases the local community.

Click here for further details on the Tour de Valley website.

CS = E is again proud to be providing the Event Management services for the Tomewin Mountain Challenge running event hosted by Chisel Runners on August 26, 2012 in the beautiful Currumbin Valley. The testing 22km course gives runners the perfect mix of challenge and beautiful scenery in one of the most spectacular running locations in Australia.

This year the event has been expanded to include two new races – a 6km ‘Highland Hurry’ and a 1km Family Fun Run that raises funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, all conducted within the confines of The Ecovillage.

CS = E will again be working closely with the Department of Main Roads, Qld Police and the Gold Coast City Council to ensure that the course is as safe as possible for all participants. This year will include additional traffic management measures to again ensure the safety of all participants and minimise the impact for other road users.

Click here to visit the event website

Following a successful Strategy Meeting with Cycling Australia State CEOs and National staff in Adelaide at the end of January 2012, CS = E has commenced the national implementation of the Risk Management for Events Project. A timeline including Project deadlines has been set with an aim to rollout the final Risk Management Policy and Plan in October 2012. This final phase includes how risk management policy will be applied in practice and involves the following key elements:

• A National Risk Management Policy document

• An Implementation Plan and guidelines in relation to the Policy document

• Forms, schedules, information and collateral for use by CA constituents in applying the practices outlined in the Implementation Plan

CS = E have submitted a proposal with the Gold Coast City Council Special Events to conduct the 2012 State Cycling Individual Time Trial Championships in the beautiful Currumbin Valley. The nominated course takes riders on a flat to undulating journey over arguably the most picturesque time trial in the country. It is hoped that an official announcement of event details will be made within the next two weeks.

CS = E provided Production Management services for a very successful 2011 Coolangatta Christmas Carols and Ethno Music Concert at Queen Elizabeth Park. Services included the development of an Event Management Plan, Risk Management Plan, Production Schedule and Equipment/Personnel list which facilitated the smooth operation of the event on the day. A larger than anticipated crowd and successful integration of community markets highlighted the potential for this event in the future.

Stage 2 of the Risk Management Project for Cycling Australia (CA) has been completed with findings presented at the CA AGM in November 2011. This stage of the Project included a trial of the recommended Risk Management Practices for Events piloted with the Murwillumbah Cycle Club in Northern NSW during October 2011.

Stage 3 of the Project is focused on the National implementation of the recommendations. A strategy meeting is scheduled with Cycling State CEOs and National staff in Adelaide on January 30 2012.

Draft reports on Risk Improvement Strategies to Promote Safer Training Practices of Members and Risk Improvement Approach to Facility and Venue Management have been completed and will be reviewed by the relevant CA staff members.

CS = E are progressing the implementation of Stage 1 recommendations presented in the Risk Management Event Criteria Report and Competency Based Assessment Report for all the cycling disciplines.

CS = E provided their expertise in Operations Management at the inaugural ‘Connecting Southern Gold Coast Tomewin Mountain Challenge’ held on August 28 2011. This road running event was a major success attracting a larger than expected field in the 22km individual and team relay event.

The challenging course started at the beautiful EcoVillage in the Currumbin Valley, taking competitiors up Tomewin Mountain to the turn-around point located at the Qld/NSW border crossing. Competitors then descended down the mountain to finish back at the EcoVillage.

CS = E worked closely with the Department of Main Roads, Qld Police and the Gold Coast City Council to ensure that the course was as safe as possible for all participants. Despite the roads being open to the public, measures were put in place to minimise the impact for other road users and it was a great opportunity for runners to have priority on the beautiful, scenic roads.

The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive and plans are already in place to expand on the popularity of the event in 2012.

A special thanks to all the volunteers who assisted with the event. It was a rewarding experience working with the team from Chisel Runners and we look forward to working with them on other exciting challenges in the near future.

For details on the event visit – Chisel Runners.

CS = E is commencing work on Stage II of the Cycling Australia Risk Management for Events Project which includes facilitating the implementation of Stage I recommendations. A workshop providing an overview of the Stage I findings and the steps to implementation will be presented to the relevant stakeholders at the CA Administrators Conference on 20-21 May 2011.

CS = E has completed a project for Cycling Australia addressing key elements of a Risk Improvement Programme as identified in a Key Risk Exposure Assessment of Cycling Australia events prepared by Willis Australia (Business Risk Services).

We focused on event management guidelines, competency based assessments and general risk management administration for approved Cycling Australia events and activities. This included a review of current practices and the development of recommended work instructions and associated documentation for administering events with a consistent risk management and event improvement approach.