New river outlook at bridge
Motorists travelling across the Wimmera River in Horsham are gaining early insight into how municipal leaders are exploring ways of improving the city’s connectivity to the river.
Horsham Rural Council has been busy clearing a riverbank area on the eastern side of Wimmera Bridge as part of a beautification project.
The project, which has involved consultation with the city’s Wimmera River Improvement and Horsham Showground management committees, involves removing disused stables and inappropriate trees, establishing greater pedestrian access and major river-front landscaping.
Wimmera Catchment Management Authority is also providing input into the project, designed to environmentally enhance the bank area and open up an improved vista of the river for Western Highway motorists.
The council is storing parts of a weathered school mural that has featured on corrugated iron sheds for many years.
Horsham Rural City Council technical services director John Martin said the project provided an introductory look at how a Cbd-river Precinct Project, still in development, might unfold.
“The Horsham council is responsible for the frontage immediately next to the river and the focus of what’s happening in clearing the showground area was originally the inspiration of Wimmera River Improvement Committee,” he said.
“It’s about improving the presentation and view of the river from one of the main thoroughfares in town, as well as improving access to the river and paths.
“The plan is to remove a corner of old and unused shedding and a redundant horse wash-down shed.
“There are 11 sugar gums at the site that are also well past their useby date.”
Mr Martin said the work would also allow for the widening and improvement of a footpath through what had been a narrow pedestrian pinch point.
“It will really improve the connectivity to the river track and open up that corner of the showground for a much better presentation of the river,” he said.
The area also represents a part of the river Member for Lowan Emma Kealy believes would be a prime location for a significant community reception and development project.
It is also an historic part of the river that has obviously played a major role in the city’s racing, agricultural show and development history.
It is near the site of a former Horsham brewery, which during the city’s pioneering days drew its water from the Wimmera River.
Mr Martin said work at the site would be ongoing with tree removal occurring within the next fortnight followed by landscaping.