Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism and Member for Barron River Steve Wettenhall said Tablelands Futures Corporation had been approved for $75,000 in funding under the Queensland Regional Development Initiative.

"Tablelands Integrated Mountain Biking Alliance will use the funds to help develop a world-class mountain biking destination on the Atherton Tablelands," Mr Wettenhall said.

"Mountain bike hubs support local towns and businesses and provide access points to other recreational activities such as bushwalking, bird watching and picnicking.

"Each hub links with the next to create a network of biking destinations and a variety of leisure experiences," he said.

"Atherton is the perfect location for such a development - it has the right terrain, suitable climate, available land and existing paths that can be enhanced for year round use.

"The grant will go towards undertaking detailed track and trail identification and design."

Mr Wettenhall said the 2010-2014 Queensland Regional Development Initiative (QRDI) was a State Government program that provided funding to regional and remote area development organisations for activities focussed on economic development.

"The aim of the initiative is to support projects which will provide strong economic benefits and create jobs in regional and remote areas," he said. 

"The Queensland Government has committed $7.52 million over the four years to support economic growth and achieve real outcomes for the state - an increase of $1.26 million on previous funding rounds."

Mr Wettenhall said the project would also have positive tourism benefits for the region.

"The Atherton trail hub will be the first of several hubs in the region that will link together to offer visitors an exceptional outdoor recreation experience," Mr Wettenhall said.

"The project is expected to attract tourists from across the globe and provide a first-class destination for international and national sporting events.

"The flow-on effects from an increasing number of visitors will also inject a considerable amount of extra money into the local economy."

He added the concept followed the successful model used in Scotland and Wales which links small towns, and promotes its hub communities as being 'mountain bike friendly' destinations.

Mr Wettenhall said $5.52 million would be made available to regional development organisations across six Queensland regions, with an additional $2 million in guaranteed funding allocated to five remote area development organisations over the next four years.

For more information about regional and rural Queensland initiatives contact the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation on 13 25 23 or visit www.regions.qld.gov.au