Pomonal track enhancing connection

An upgrade to a walking track linking Pomonal’s town centre to the Grampians National Park is underway.

The Tunnel Road Track Loop redevelopment, part of the Pomonal Linkage Strategy, aims to enhance the existing track and create a dedicated trail into the park, also known as Gariwerd.

The project, a collaboration between Ararat Rural City Council and Pomonal Progress Association, will enhance visitor connections.

The council’s chief executive Tim Harrison said a State Government grant of $200,000 – part of a ‘National Disaster Recover Funding Arrangements’ fund to target communities at risk of disaster – had enabled the council to deliver stage-one works including an ecological assessment, surveying, landscape design and preliminary works.

“The new Pomonal Tunnel Loop will give visitors and residents a premium walking experience that links the township with Robins Road path and the Tunnel Road track before extending to the Grampians Peak Trail; it provides a perfect opportunity for people to get out and enjoy nature at its best,” he said.

“Once the final stage is complete, the upgraded walking loop will reconnect the historic bridle track from Pomonal to Lake Bellfield, leading to the top of Mount William and further connect onto Halls Gap or the Borough Huts, which links to the Grampians Peak Trail.”

The council has delivered additional resurfacing works on a 1.5-kilometre section of Robins Road at Pomonal, including reinstating the 1.5m width of the road and laying granite sand.

“Starting from the Pomonal General Store, council’s parks and gardens crew are reconstructing a section of the Robins Road walking path to provide an all-weather surface for foot and bicycle traffic flow,” Dr Harrison said.

“These early works are a vital step forward for the project, including improving accessibility and the visual appeal of the track.”