Park trail on track

Parks Victoria is drawing closer to completing a major trail construction project in Grampians National Park, which is expected to generate millions of dollars for the region’s tourism sector.

Parks Victoria hosted a series of face-to-face and online information sessions for stakeholders and licensed tourism operators last month, outlining progress of the Grampians Peaks Trail.

Work is scheduled to be completed in spring, with bookings opening in the coming month for visitors planning to stay at 11 hiker camps along the route.

The sessions came after four new day-hike trails opened in northern and southern sections of the national park in May.

The trails take in the landscape of Mount Stapylton, Lake Wartook, lower waterfalls of Mount Difficult, also called Gar, and Signal Peak.

Leaders expect completion of the project will bring opportunities to the region beyond the walk itself, with expectations up to 34,000 walkers will experience the national park annually by 2025, generating more than $6-million in economic benefit in the region.

When complete, the 160-kilometre trail can be experienced in sections, or as a 13-day journey.

People can visit Parks Victoria website www. parks.vic.gov.au for more information about the trail.