Leader: Help us finish river trail
Ahindmarsh
Shire community leader is confident more government funding to complete a 61-kilometre stage of a Wimmera River cycling and walking trail would be money well spent.
Cr Tony Schneider of Dimboola said completing the work and opening the trail would be ideal in helping to stimulate regional economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He outlined his thoughts in a letter to The Weekly Advertiser in response to latest State Government infrastructure and tourism funding.
“I just see it as the perfect type of socio-economic builder for our region,” he said.
“Here’s a project that is already underway and previously recognised with financial commitments.
“It’s a project that would be good for Hindmarsh Shire in linking Dimboola, Jeparit and Rainbow, but it would also be good for the overall health, tourism and promotion in the region. And it’s more than just linking towns with a recreation and camping trail – it’s about bringing people together to experience our heritage river, national parks and what our communities have to offer.”
Investment
The overall $3-million Wimmera River Discovery Trail is a 103-kilometre project that includes a stretch of Wimmera River between Dimboola and the terminal lakes of Hindmarsh and Albacutya – part of the lower arterial end of the Wimmera catchment.
The project is well advanced in planning and primary construction stages and has already attracted considerable local, federal and state government investment.
The area has been the subject of significant historic human activity for thousands of years, initially involving indigenous people and later European settlers and entrepreneurs.
It is also listed as a top-three priority project in Regional Development Victoria’s Grampians Region Cycling and Trails Infrastructure Business and Masterplan.
Its design is to provide cycling, walking and camping-adventure opportunities, with easy access points along its length.
Cr Schneider said people would be looking for domestic-travel opportunities as the state eased out of restrictions and with many keen to rekindle a connection to ‘the great outdoors’.
“During the lockdown period people have started to recognise the value of everyday things and gone back to the basics,” he said.
“They have been taking up passive recreation in a big way and the trail is perfect for that. Extra funding would ensure the trail is finalised and becomes the high-quality and unique experience that our part of Victoria will need to help with recovery.
“Much of the necessary groundwork has happened and all we really need to do is get this seriously rolling.”
Key attractions of the trail are that it will promote family-friendly cycling experiences without the dangers of cycling on all-traffic roads or a need for specialist off-road bicycles and that the experience involves a unique part of Australia.
“I encourage as many people as possible to get behind this project, perhaps contact their members of parliament, so we can complete something that will be great for the region,” Cr Schneider said.